
Glass fLiii 

Book_ ,13 6 84- 




From the Commission on Parchment, now in the Possession of Roe Hendrick, Elmira, Xew York, (treat-Great- 
Grandson of Captain Daniel Roe. Cut somewhat reduced from the original. 



Th e D ia ry 



OF 



Captain Daniel Roe 



An Officer of the French and Indian War 
and of the Revolution 



Brookhaven, Long Island, during Portions 

of 1806-7-8 



With Introduction and Notes by 

ALFRED SEELYE ROE 

A Great-Grandson 



Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield. 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe hath broke; 

How jocund did they drive their team afield! 

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdv stroke!" 



Pr hat fly printed by the An not <i tor, Worcester, Massachusetts, ig04 



THE BLANCHARD PRESS 

34 Front Street, Worcester 
I 904 



I^>. 



k 



^^^^. 



To the Reader 



I 



Presumably, you are a descendant of Captain Daniel Roe. As such you 
are interested in his ancestry and story, and in those of Deborah Brewster, his 
wife. Tog'ether they furnish authority for your admission to several hereditary, 
patriotic societies, viz.: — 

Througfh Daniel Roe's service in the F'rench and Indian War and in the 
Revolution, you are eligible to membership in the General Society of Colonial 
Wars, in the Sons of the Revolution and of the American Revolution, in the 
Daughters of the Revolution and of the American Revolution. 

Through the ancestry of Del)orali Brewster you may enter the Society of 
Mayflower Descendants and that of Descendants of Colonial Governors. 

Through the early coming to America of the ancestors of both Daniel Roe 
and his wife, and their reputable lives, you are. if of the gentler sex. entitled to 
enrollment in the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. 

Should your ancestry include Daniel Roe (3) you are eligible to the Cien- 
eral Society of the War of 1812 and to the United States Daughters of 1812. 

The foregoing ought to satisfy any man or woman of even the most ultra 
"jiner" proclivities. 

The praiseworthy actions of our forbears, their sacrifices and triumphs, in 
no way affect us of today except as they may prompt us to nobler living. Mere 
pride of ancestry is puerile, but admiration for what the fathers were and what 
they did may be encouraged with no danger of falling into ( Oriental Shintoism. 

" There is a moral and philosophical respect for our ancestors 
which elevates the character and improves the heart." 

'^ Daniel Webster. 

To the score and more cousins of greater or less remoteness who by their 
co-operation have rendered the printing of this ancestral tribute possible, many 
thanks are due. and they are hereby rendered with the hope that my labors have 
not been barren of information and pleasure to the descendants of Captain 
Daniel Roe. 

ALFRED SEELYE ROE. 
Worcester. Mass., June. 1904. 



(Note.— The somewhat peculiar size or shape of this book is necessitated by the 
dimensions of the Commission and Pay-roll, which are as essential to the volume as Hamlet 
is to the play bearing his name.) 



Introduction 



Daniel Roe, of l>rookhcnen. Lent;- Island, was the third in descent from 
John Roe or Rowe who settled in Drowned Meadow, now Port Jefferson, in 
1^)67. Of this first settler, it is claimed that he was born in' Ireland in 1628, 
that he came to America in 1^)55, and to Southampton, L. 1., five years later. 
He was a shoemaker bv trade and ag-reed to be of service in this capa'city to 
his fellow settlers. In his will, drawn in 171 1, he mentions himself as "Cord- 
wainer." To him were assigned the acres Iving along the head of Brookhaven 
harbor, and to this day, the streets of Port Jefferson are largely parallel to 
the winding shores of that Ix-autiful body of water. For more than a hun- 
dred years, the settlement had few accessions; as late as 1797 there were but 
five dwelling houses, one, that of the first John Roe (the spelling of his name 
was indift'erent to him. It is Rowe on his tombstone) ; a second was that of 
Phillips Roe, and a third was erected by John Roe, father of the Captain. In 
1812 there were only nineteen houses, a veritable Sleepy Hollow, till the 
introduction and growth of shi])-building made the bustling village, and 
brought, in 1836, the name, "Port Jeff'erson." 

In tliis quiet place, and in its vicinity, the Roes abode for at least three 
generations, and their graves were made and preserved in a famil}- Inu-ial- 
ground till, in the march of events, a new street must needs go through the 
same, hence what was left of their bones found final burial in the new ceme- 
tery, finely placed, Imt not where the fathers chose to sleep. 

To jolin Roe and his wife, Hannah, were born sons, John and Nathaniel. 

Nathaniel Roe married Hannah Reeve, of Southold, of the family which 
later gave to Connecticut her fauKTUs jurist. Judge Tappan Reeve, him of the 
Litchfield Law School. 

To this Nathaniel and his wife, Hannah, came also sons, Nathaniel and 
John; the reversed order willbeobserved. From this third Nathaniel descended 
the Hudson River Roes, including E. P. Roe, the novelist, also the Roes of 
Cortland and Tompkins counties. John Roe, of the thirtl generation, married 
widow Joanna (Miller) Helme, of Miller's Place, of the town of Brook'haVen. 
It is claimed that her ancestor was John Miller, son of Rev. John and Lydia 
Miller, of Massachusetts, who married, Dec. 24, 1659, Margaret, daughter of 
Josiah Winslow, a brother of Edward Winslow, Governor of Plymouth 
Colony. However pleasant such descent might be, it is more reasonable to 
believe that our John Miller is the one found at Easthampton in 1649 and 
wlio married a sister of Abraham Pierson, afterwards the first President of 
Yale College. Jolin's son, Andrew, later Ijecame the first settler in Miller's 
place, a ha'mlet of Brookhaven. The Miller descent was John,^ Andrew,^ 



6 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Andrew,^ Joanna.'' She married, first, Thomas Hehne. who was killed while 
felling- a tree, leaving an infant son, Thomas, Jr. The family name was one 
of the best on eastern Long Island. Like his half-brother. Captain Roe, he 
bore his part in the Revolutionary struggle. The Rev. A. M. Roe. of Fulton, 
says, "I often heard my father (Austin Roe) speak of L^ncle Helme." In 
1775' Thomas Helme was one of the heaviest taxpayers in the town. 

John Roe and his wife, Joanna, ha'd sons Jolm, Justus, xA.zel, Daniel and 
Austin ; daug^hters, Joanna, Amy and Hannah. John Roe of the fourth gen- 
eration retained the homestead erected by his father, and in it a direct 
descendant, Charles F.. is living now. Justus lived chiefly in Setaiiket ; Azel, a 
graduate of Princeton College, 1756, for more than fifty years was pastor of 
the Presb\terian Church in Woodbridge, X. f. He, too, did valiant service 




"he Original Kok [Iomestead. 1'ort Jefferson. L 



Erected Before i-oo. 



in the Revolution, sufifering imprisonment in the Sugar House, of Xew York. 
Several interesting letters from him to his brothers are still extant; a grandson 
wa's A. S. Roe, the novelist ; Austin lived on the south shore near Patchogue ; 

Joanna married James Davis: Amy, Woodhull ; Hannah, Isaac Davis. 

Of Austin, above, it sho'uld be stated that he bore the title "Captain" from ser- 
vice in the militia, and that, during the earlier part of his life, he kept a tavern 
in Setauket, where his umnarried brother. Justus, made his home with him. 
Later he moved to the south shore. When in April, 1790, General Wash- 
ington made his tour of Long Island, he has for the 22d. in part, the following 
entry : "From Hart's we struck across the Island for the No. side, passing the 
East end of the Brushey Plains — Koram 8 miles — thence to Setaket 7 miles to 
the House of Capt. Roe, which is tolerably dect. (decent) with O'bliging people 
in it." He left Roe's at 8 the next morning. Had the President cared to 



HIS DIARY 7 

record all the happenini^s of that 22(1. he inioht have added that Capt. Roe had 
the misfortune to break his leg- while hurrying home to receive His Excellency 
and, as a consequence, was lame for the rest of his life. 

Daniel Roe, the fourth son of John and Joanna, was born. Jan. 20, 1740, 
in the house built by his father, and still standing-, in Port Jefferson; he died, 
Ian. Ti, 1820. at his long-time residence in U'esttields. now Selden. near the 
middle of Long- Island; the post-offtce was Coram. He was married, April 
22, 1762, to Deborah, daughter of Joseph Brewster, of Setauket. in the town- 
ship of Brookhaven. 

The Brewster line on Long- Island is from Xathaniel. the first regular 
pastor of the church in said township. He was a graduate of the first class in 
Harvard College. 1642. and is claimed to be the first native American gradu- 
ate. While the statement is disputed by Savage and others. Thompson in his 
History of Long Island, and Prime in his Ecclesiastical Story of the Island, 
say he was the grandson of Elder \\'illiam Brewster of the AIavflowkr, his 
father having been Jonathan, the Elder's oldest son. Xathaniel Brewster 
married Lucretia, daughter of Roger Ludlow, Deputv Govkkxok of ^Jassa- 
chusetts in 1634; later was Deputy Go\'ERNor of Connecticut, dying in \'ir- 
ginia in 1665. Brewster preached for a number of years in England, com- 
ing to Setauket in 1655 and continuing till his death in 1690. His sons be- 
came prominent citizens of the new town, and of them Timothy married Mary 
Hawkins, probably daug-hter of Zachary, another of the founders. Their son. 
Jos'^ph, married Ruth Biscoe, of a Milford, Conn., family. To Joseph arid 
Ruth came a numerous famil}-. of whom a second Joseph was an infiuential 
citizen; a dau.. Alary, was married to John Roe. Daniel's elder brother: and 
Deborah, born Sept. 10. 1741. became the joint progenitor of the extended 
famil}- which looks to Daniel and Deborah Roe for ancestral authority. She 
died Jan. 2. 1832. and with her Captain sleeps in the family burial-ground, 
across the road from the homestead. 

Of that low-studded house, it might be stated that the Wayne County Roes 
ha\'e said that they had from its chambers looked out througii bullet holes, 
marks of Tory hate, made when the patriot mother held the fort, while her 
husband was away and before the fiight. One migiit remark that it was all 
too small a building for so many inmates, but its heyday was before later 
usages made such imperative demands for space, and Elisha 0\'erton was 
wont to remark: 'Tt was a happy place when the children were all at home." 
During the early Revolutionary days, she had the help of Tom Ryant, who 
had been reared in the family, and Ruth Dayton, who had been hired for this 
purpose. During the family absence, the place was occupied by a Tory 
neighbor, who made the most of his opportunity, and from whom, we are told, 
damages were later obtained. It is said that a particular grievance to him 
was the fa'ct that Captain Roe came back in time to harvest a crop of corn 
which the Tor}- had planted and expected to gather. 

The Long Islanders, in those days, were a prolific people, and to our 
ancestors came twelve children, of whom all but two lived to maturity and 
nearly all to advanced ages. Unfortunately the photographer did not then 
exist, and their station in life could not command the painter's brush, but of. 



8 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

their personal appearance we have the description of those who saw them. 
Sheldon R. Overton, a grandson, born in 1800, said of the Captain: "He was^ 
rather under the average stature, dark of eyes and complexion, quick and 
active in his bearing, not unlike his youngest son. Austin." Of his wife, 
Deborah, the Rev. Austin M. Roe says: "She wa.s a small woman with 
flashing, bla'ck eyes, an object of tenderest affection to all her children, and 
was seventy-two years old when I was born, hence quite past the period of 
activity. I can remember, however, that she always had, on her face, 
something said to be of a cancerous nature which she was able to keep in 
abeyance by an application made from poke-berries: dying, tinally. at a 
great age from other causes." A\''hen, in the early eighties, Mr. Roe visited 
his birthplace in Selden. now and then the residence of Mr. Samuel Dare, as 
he stood in the living-room, on the left side of the main entrance, and 
faced the great fire-place, he said: "There is where (jrandmother used to sit, 
right up in the chimney-corner." Never till that moment did at least one 
of the party know just what "chimney-corner" meant. Another grandson, 
the second Joseph B. Roe, said of Deborah Brewster: "She possessed great 
fortitude, patience and e(juanimity of mind, although s'he was slender and 
delicate in person. 

The children of this wortliv couple, in order, were Daniel, Joseph Brew- 
ster, Deborah, John, Joanna. Charlotte, Ruth, Mary, Hannah, Rebecca and 
Huldah (twins), and Austin, of wdiich list the last four were born wdiile the 
famil}' was in exile, i. e., while living in Connecticut during the Revolution. 
While the temptation to dwell on the merits of each respective member of this 
family is great, the limits of the article forbid more than the barest detail, 
though this must be said, that each one was a I'uritan of the strictest type, 
worthy descendants of people who had left their IJritish homes for conscience 
sake. The regularity of the advent of children to this household from the first 
in 1762 to the last in 1782, with an interval of tW(T vears in every case, is 
worthy the stud}- of sociologists ; evidently. Xature had her own way to the 
letter. 

(i) Daniel, b. Nov. 29. 1762: m. Feb. 15. 1787, in Oxford, Conn., Xabby, 
dau. of Daniel and Hannah Tucker of Derby, Conn., but coming straight from", 
the Long Island descendants of Captain John Tucker, who was one of the 
first settlers in Brookha\'en. This marriage was. without doubt, one of the 
direct results of the Roe liA'ing in Connecticut during the Revolution. The 
young people began their married life in Derbv, where Daniel was verv prom- 
inent in the INI. E. Church. Later they lived in Litchfield, but in 1812 they 
made the "Westward Ho" experiment, locating in what is now Butler, Wayne- 
County, N. Y., near the village of Wolcott. Here, too, Daniel Roe was 
active in religious work, and was instrumental in planting Methodism in the 
town and county. 

To this Daniel and his wife was born a numerous i^rogeny. There were 
thirteen children, who followed each other almost as regularly as did their 
uncles and aunts a generation Ijefore. for from Sanmel in 1788 to Orrene. 181 1, 
there was no break of the two y tars' interval save midway in the list. 1796 is 
followed by 1797, thus changing from the even to odd \ears. Samuel and 




HIS DIARY g- 

William died in childhood, the former born in Brookhaven and the next in 
Derbv, where the little ones continned to appear till 1803. when Austin was 
born. Thence the birthplace was tran>ferred to Litchfield. Deborah Hannah, 
b. in 1805, died in earh- womanhood in Ikitler. The Christian names of her 
grandmothers should be noted. All the other children attained maturity and 
lives of usefulness: they were Daniel, John, Polly, Xabby. Rebecca, Sophronia, 
Austin, Willis \\'.. lose[)h Brewster and ( )rrene. The pioneer mother of this 
family died in 1840 at the age of 70 years, while Daniel, the father, lived till 
1852. llie third Daniel in this series m.. first, Alice Wright; second. Lydia 
Fitch, and had three children : he died in 1884, aged 92 years, a pensioner of the 
War of 1812; John m. Huldah Seym >ur of a disting-uished Connecticut family, 
and had six children; he died, 1876. aged 82 years; I^olly m. Daniel Wood, and 
had no children; .\al)b\' m. Cornelius \'anderoef, and was childless; Rebecca 




The Second Roe Homeste.^d. Erected Early in the Eighteenth Century by John Roe (3). 

Port Jefferson. I^. T. 

m. William Wood, and had four children; Sophronia m. Benjamin Howland, 
and had six children ; Austin m. Sarah Wisner, and was the father of eight 
children; he died at ^3 in 1866; Willis W. m. Mora Spencer, and had four sons; 
he also died at 63 in 1871 ; Jose;;)h Brewster m. Charlotte Wisner. sister of 
Sarah. Austin's wife, and had four children ; ( )rrene. the wife of Jotham Post, 
was the mother of four children. 

(2) Joseph I'rewster, b. Sept. 8, 17^)4; m., first, Polly Haiumond of a Long- 
Island family, whose earliest representative there was the Rev. Xoah, who died 
in Coram. 1774, he being the fourth in descent from Thomas, who settled in 
Hingham, Mass., in the seventeenth centurv. l''rt)iu many sources come 
statements of the saintly character of Ca])tain Roe's second son; his admirable 
traits seemed to so impress his relatives that the combination Josei)h and 



lo CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Brewster still persists among- descendants and xlistant relatives more than 
seventy years since his death. It would seem that he was an early convert to 
the Methodist faith, and his home, near that of his father, was long a i)lace tor 
preaching and social meetings. Joseph and Polly were paj-ents of Joseph 
Brewster, Polly, Amy, John Wesley, Siamuel, Fanny, Huldah and Nelson 
Hammond, eight in number ; he married for his second wife Dorinda Howell, 
also of one of the oldest Long Island families, particularly in the town of 
Southampton; to them were born Hester Ann, Francis Asbury and Sarah 
Elizabeth, making eleven children in all. This family has remained largely on 
Long Island, Isaac Brewster Roe of Port Jefiferson, a son of John Wesley Roe, 
being the principal custodian of information concerning it. Joseph Brewster 
Roe, 2d, b. in 1790, was a man of wide experience, and frequently visited his 
Wayne County relatives ; he married ( Jrrene Selleck of Connecticut, and had 
three children, of whom Elijah W'oolsey lived long in Xew York city, dying at 
the age of 82 years in 1896; the latter left a family of eight daughters and one 
son, Joseph Brewster, now a lawyer in New York. The first Jose])h Brewster 
died in 1831 on his 67th Ijirthday; his son, the second Joseph !'>., died in 
Patchogue, L. I., in 1871. 

(3) Deborah, b. July 31, 1766, was m. Oct. 12, 1782, in W'oodljury, Ci mn., 
to Truman Porter, of the family which gave Pres.Xoah Porter to Yale College, 
and distinguished men to all the professions. As will be seen, Deborah at the 
early age of sixteen was wedded to a man considerably her senior, he having 
been a soldier during the Revolution. He was born in Woodburv in 1756, 
and when Captain Roe and family came back to Long Island he accompanied 
theiu, and lived to be nearly or Cjuite go years old. His wife, Deborah, died 
in her 85th year. Their children were many, and for their names we are 
indebted to the second Joseph B. Roe. They were Daniel, Sarah, Clarissa, 
Charlotte, Polly, Ruth, Catherine Garretson, Jesse Johnson, Nabby, and five 
others whom their cousin did not name. It is a matter of regret that so little 
is known of these fourteen children ; Sarah became the wife of Amos Soper of 
a Smithtown family, and the mother of five sons and at least one daughter, all 
of whom lived a longer or shorter time in \Wiyue County. They were Daniel, 
Egbert, Joseph Brewster, Piatt, I'ryor, and Mrs. Isaac Curtis. Ilic latter two 
returned to Long Island. 

(4) John, b. Oct. 9, 1768, m. Elizabeth Foster of Quogue, town of South- 
ampton, another long-established family. Slie was fifth in descent from 
Christopher Foster, who came to the Island among the very first. She was 
born Nov. 22, 1778, and died in Honesdale, l*enn., March 16, 185 1. In the 
earlier days it was customar\ to select one of the sons for a profession, and 
Jt)hn was tlie chosen one in this group, \'^^x some time he studied with his 
tmcle, Azel, the New Jersey clergyman, but his health failing he chose a 
mercantile life, locating in New York city, where he died Nov. 16, 1807, leaving 
an infant son, John Foster, b. Aug. 25, 1806, who was reared in the old Foster 
home. Long Island, and was educated for the profession of a civil engineer, but 
his mother, thinking that hardly stable enough, he went in early life to 
Honesdale, Penn., and there spent his life, following chiefiy the career of a 



HIS DIARY II 

merchant. He was twice married: first. Rutlv Sayre ; second, Anna R. rniller, 
and was the fatlier of seven chihh'en, of whom four survive. 

(5) Joanna, 1). Jan. 24, T770, became the wife of Laban Worth, whose 
progenitors had lono- l:)een on the Island. He was a farmer and lived near the 
old home of his wife. He died in iSiC), l)ut his wife survived till i860. Their 
children were Coleman, Abbie, Sylvester, Seth, Huldah, Phoebe, John, and 
Anna. Coleman, who had learned the trade of ship-carpenter, followed his 
uncles, Daniel and .\ustin, to Wayne County, and located on Port Rav in the 
t(3wn of \W:)lcott : his wife was Xancy IJunce, and to them were l)orn Xancv B., 
Justice ().. Edward (i., Samuel Al., William H.,and Sarah Alice ; Xanc\- became 
Mrs. Havens Smith. J. O. was a Methodist minister of the Xew \'ork East 
Conference. \Wlliam H. died as a surgeon during the Rebellii n, Edward was 
a \\'olcott farmer, Sarah Alice married Edwin J. T'oster of Red Creek, N. Y., 
and all now are in the other world. Sylvester Worth married Hannah Mott. 
and left no children. Seth Worth married Kate Smith, and had two children. 
Huldah Worth became the wife of Daniel Mott, who represented another 
long-settled family on the Island, and finally both moved to Missouri, where 
they died; their children were Joseph Brewster. Daniel Roe, Anne, Hannah, 
and John V ., of whom the first named is still living in Easterville, Iowa; Anne 
married, first, a Johnson; second, Baldwin ; Hannah married Hiram Nowlin of 
Pulaski. Mich. To Daniel Roe Mott and his wife, Sallv M. Miller, were born 
nine children, six of whom are now living in Michigan. Phoebe ^^^orth 
married Loren Doolittle, and had four children, one of whom, Silas, now living 
in D'owagiac, Mich., was a soldier in the 75th X. Y. Infantr}-. John AX'orth, 
who was a sea captain, was robbed and killed, leaving two children to be 
reared by their (irandma Worth, as their mother soon followed the father; 
Abbie and Anna died unmarried, the latter at seventeen years. 

(6) Charlotte, b. May 15, 1772; m. Daniel, son of Joseph and Mehitable 
(\"ail) Ilrown, another old Long Island name; Daniel was one of eighteen 
children. To Charlotte and Daniel Ijrown came eleven children, all of whom, 
save the last two, were born on Long Island ; Hetta, the second, and Charlotte, 
the ninth child, died in infancy; Harriet, the first born, m. Daniel Moore; 
Emma m. Joseph M. Smith; Joseph, S(Jphia Sweazey ; Fanny, John Allen; 
Hannah, Deacon Sage; James, third wife, Cordelia Peas; Daniel Roe, Sarah 
W^ood ; Alfred X'^athaniel, Mary Smith; Penjamin Ijrewster, Emily Hotchkiss. 
The family in 1812 mo\'ed to Windsor, Broome County, and taking up new 
land were prosperous farmers and worthv citizens ; their numerous descend- 
ants are found largely in the western portions of X^ew York State. Mrs. 
Charlotte Brown died in her 68th year. 

(7) Ruth, b. May 19, 1774; d. May 12, 1847. ^^i*? ^^'^^ married to Elisha 
Overton, of a family identified with Southold and P>rookhaven from their 
respective beginnings; through Palmer, David and Isaac he was fourth from 
Isaac the first, a race of farmers. To Ruth and Elisha were born Charlotte, 
Sheldon and Lewis (twins), Coleman, Brewster, and Harriet; Sheldon m. 
Catherine Roe of Rose, N. Y., and settled in Wayne County, dying in Wolcott 
when past the age of 80 years ; Lewis remained on the Island, as did Charlotte, 
the latter dying unmarried many }'ears ago. It was in her keeping ^that 



12 



CAPT. DANIEL ROE 



Captain Roe's journal was had for a long period. Lewis's son, W^ebster, now 
resides near the old home of Elisha, post-office Coram. 

(8) Mary, b. June 2^^, ^77^^^ came just a little before the Declaration of 
Independence, and was a babe in arms when the flight to Connecticut took 
place, and was an interesting bit of a girl when the family returned, Ijut to her 
was denied that length of da}S so characteristic of her brothers and sisters, 
for she was nearing the sweet period of sixteen when, May 3, 1792, she broke 
the family ranks bv her death, and was the first to be buried in the plot south 
of the earthly home, where, later, father, mother, brother and sister were to lie. 

(9) Hannah, b. in Connecticut April cS. 1778; d. March 16, 1854. She was 
the wife of Zophar Hallock, a scion of another IcMig-settled Island family ; 
through Daniel,'^ Jonathan,^ John,-' AA'illiam,- his lineage went back to Peter 
Hallock, one of the yery first to settle in Southold. Their home was in what 
was once called New \ illage, now Lake (iroN-e, a few miles west of the 
Captain's home, and here they reared their famil}- of nine children, viz., 
Nancy, who m. jason Hammond: Laura m. Mowbray S. Hammond; John 




The FiRsi Rdk 1 Idmestead, Divided and Separated, with a\ fi'KK.iii l^uii i i.n I'.i iween the Ends. 
Now the Townsend House, Port Jefferson, L. I. (Rear view.) 

Foster m. Elvina Overton: Almira : ^lary Eliza m. I. A. L'Homedieu : Daniel 
Roe m. Marv H. Rogers: Charlotte Roe m. 1. Tilotson : Samuel Merret m. 
Sarah Snedecar : Harriet Newel. The two older sisters married l^-others 
descended from the same Thomas Hammond mentioned in connection with 
Joseph Brewster's wife. Tolly, who was an aunt of these two. The latter 
reared a large family of eight children : two sons were Methodist preachers, 
two were teachers and one a physician : their homes were scattered from 
Connecticut to \'irginia. Daniel Roe Hallock remained on the paternal acres: 
of his six children one is lienjamin Franklin, who resides near the old Hallock 
home, and his hand rescued from the mass of old i)apers on their way to the 
paper-mill, the precious manuscript written by Capt. Daniel Roe, which forms 
the burden of this bocjk. 



HIS DIARY 13 

( 10 and it) Rel)ecca and Huldah, twins, b. Se])t. 13. 1780. in Connecticut. 
Relx'cca died Oct. 7. 1785, very soon after the return of the family to Long 
Island ; Huldah remained at home, saw her father and mother laid in the grave, 
and accompanied her brother. .Austin, when, in 1833, '""^ removed to Wayne 
County. Idiere she later married Le\'i Smith of \A^olcott. and with him 
remo\ed to Indiana, where in Aiiohigan City she died in 1840. 

(12) Austin, b. (let. 18, 1782, in Woodbury, Conn. To him fell the lot of 
staving at home and lieing the chief help of his parents in their age. He is 
mentioned in nearly e\'ery entry in the journal. He married. May 19, 1810, 
his first cousin. Sail}', dan. of Austin Roe of I'atchogue: to them were born 
eight children, two of whom, Sylvester and Ebenezer. died in infancy; the 
others were Daniel Jones, who m. Mar}- Ann Tillow. and removed to 
}^Iichigan ; Catherine m. S. R. ( )verton (yid. Ruth Overton) ; Eliza m. George 
Stafford and died in ( )hio ; John Brewster m., first, Roxana Sours; second, 
Eunice Li\ermore ; following his father on the Rose. Wayne Count}-, farm. 
Rev. Au.stin Marinus m. I'oll}- C. Seelye, and resides in b\dton. N^. Y. ; Fanny 
M. m. Timothv R. Smith, and lixes in Cl}-de, New York. 

The list is ended. Any one caring to enumerate them will find eighty- 
one names included among Captain Daniel's grandchildren, an a\ erage of nine 
for each child who was the father or mother of children. Reckoning from the 
standard of Rresident Roosevelt, the record is a protul one. Had the same 
average continued to this time, wdien Captain Roe's great-great-grandchildren 
are themselves parents, making the same allowance for death and barreiiness 
as in his immediate family, viz., one-fourth, we should find more than 3r)00 
descendants in the fourth generation, but the century and more intervening 
between this date and that of the coming of his first grandchild have 
de^-eloped obstacles to an extent which eliminates averages, and those 
parents consider themselves fortunate wdio are al)le to perpetuate just the 
producing number, viz., two. Of the total eighty-one grandchildren, only the 
Rev. Austin M. Roe and his sister, Mrs. Fanny M. Smith. sur\'ive. aged 
respectively 80 and 75 years, they being the youngest children of Austin, 
Captain Daniel's youngest child. 

A brief and partial resume of the descendants discloses representatives of 
all the learned professions, inventors and skilled mechanics, bankers, 
merchants of all sorts of goods ; in fine, it shows every form of securing an 
honest livelihood, but by far the largest number has kept ""Near to Nature's 
Heart ;" in other words, the Roes and their affiliated branches have been tillers 
of the soil. There have been and are clergymen, lawyers, physicians and 
teachers of "credit and renown," but of the great majority it must be said 
that the farm is their principal theatre. An ancestor was a graduate in Har- 
vard's first class, and in the latest classes of the said mother of American 
colleges have been found descendants of the Captain in the fifth generation. 
Yale gave a Doctorate of Divinity to Azel Roe, Captain Daniel's militant, 
ministerial brother, and in the eighties she graduated in full course a great- 
great-grandson of the officer. The Methodist antecedents of the family may 
largelv account for the fact that from Wesleyan University no less than nine 
descendants have been graduated, and five more were pupils there, while from 



14 CAPr. DANIEL ROE 

Smith, Mount Holyoke, and other institutions for the gentler sex his grand- 
daughters of more or less remove have secured the educational advantages 
desired. 

Items from Printed and Written Sources Concerning 
Capt. Daniel Rowe. 

French and Indian War. 

The i)apers of Captain Roe contain very little bearing on his ser\ice in 
this earlier struggle. Of course, we have the commission issued to him bv 
Governor Colden, and his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Henrv T. Lee of 
Clyde, N. Y., has a valuable souvenir in the shape of a powder-horn, profusely 
ornamented, always claimed to ha\-e been lirought back from this exi)edition. 
but a diligent examination of all written records reveals only the following, 
viz., an effort to obtain recognition from the Government of the work done bv 
certain soldiers before the Revolution. What would we not gi\'e if the names 
of those interested in the move had b >en signed? In most excellent |)enman- 
ship, and in ink which defies the erasive power of time, we read : 

"Whereas it is published in the public newspapers of the State of New York 
that a meeting in the Scipio will be held on the second Tuesday of September 
next for the purpose of dcAising means for obtaining the lands allowed to the 
soldiers, or their heirs, who actually served in the Old French \\'ar, in 
pursuance of said Notice a Meeting was held in Smithtown, Suff<i]k Countv of 
us whose names are underwn'itten who were actually in said service, or the 
heirs of those who actually served and have agreed to appoint and do hereb}- 

authorize and appoint our Agent t(T attend the said 

Meeting at Scipio, with full ])()wer to act and do for us and each of us as if 
were personallv present." 

Subsequently a meeting was held and the following record is had: 
"Agreeable to agournment a meeting was held at l^itus Gould's inn keeper in 
Brookhaven the nineteenth of August 1817 when the a])ove was duly 
considered and Lieutenant Rowe was unanimouslv elected to the agencv of all 
the undersigned." 

I'nfortunatel}', no names follow. Did our Ca])tain, tlie Lieutenant of the 
French W'ar, attend? The subject nu-rits further investigation. l)ut at present 
the nearest we can come to an answer is in an extract from a letter written bv 
his daughter, Charlotte llrown, in April, 1818, saying, "Mr. lirown and 
Joseph are gitting in their S|)ring wdieat on the side hill where Dear Father 
walked up and down when lie was here." Apparently Captain Roe had 
visited his child and family the ])receding fall, and what more natural than that 
he should combine the pleasure of a call on his kindred in Broome County 
with the l)usiness engagement in Cayuga? A third heading in the same 
document relates to the payment of expenses incident to the Sci])io meeting, 
hence it is not improbable that our ancestor had the double jdeasure of visiting, 
furthering a good cause and at the same time knowing that he was getting" 
diversion gratis. When we reflect that all this was before the days of 
railroads or even canal facilities, we have cause to admire the mettle of a man 



H/S DIARY 15 

of seventy-seven years who would undertake a journey of such len<>-th witli 
its necessary trials and inconveniences. 

I^'kom Uxi)1-:ki)()Xk's Rexolitionaky Incidents of Suffolk County. 

No. 542. — "At a meeting- of freeholders and other inhabitants of Brook- 
haven June 8, 1775: By a large majority were chosen 16 persons as a Com- 
mittee of Observation to represent said town and deliberate on other 
matters reljltive to oiu" present political welfare." * * * Said committee 
met }\\nQ 2y, Tuesday, and among the fifteen present were Daniel 
and Nathaniel Roe. cousins; Joseph Brown, whose son, Daniel, was 
to marry subsetpiently our Captain's daughter, Charlotte; and Thomas 
Helme, the half brother of Daniel Roe. The committee ])assed. 
unanim(^usly. seven resolutions. While the first declared unfaltering 
loyalty to King Cieorge the others as forcibly take to task the course of the 
King and Parliament in oppressive acts, apologize for the lateness of the 
resolutions, and declare a fixed determination that no ]irovisions be 
transported from the bounds of their constituents for the aid and comfort of 
their enemies. 

No. 552. — "At a meeting held in Smithtown, Sept. 6, 1775, for nominating 
Field Officers for the \\estern reg. of Suffolk Co., there were present among 
others, Daniel and Nathaniel Roe and Joseph Brown." 

No. 555. — "At the same place and for regimental i)urposes, Brookhaven 
sent several representatives, among them, Daniel and Nathaniel Roe." 

No. 560. — "Aianor St. George, December 15, '75. (ientlemen. There have 
enlisted as Minute men 70 able-bodied men within the bounds of Brook 
Haven, Smithtown, Manor St. George, and the Paten tship of Moriches who 
have chosen Dan'l Roe, Capt. ; Hugh Smith, ist Lt. ; Caleb Brew^ster, 2d Lt. ; 
Eben'r Phillips, Ensign." " * * * ■'' [Nath'l Roe was Captain of the 3d Com- 
pany from Brookhaven.] 

No. 576. — "]May 9, "76. 2d N. Y. Reg. i. Dan'l Roe, Capt. ; Jona. Titus, ist 
Lt. ; Geo. Smith, 2d Lt. ; I'enj. Titus, En." 

No. 610. — "Saybrook, Sep. 24, "76. Last Fridav (Sept. 20) a party from 
Lt. Col. Livingston's detachment was put under command of Capt. Dan'l Roe, 
to go from Saybrook to W. Haven, for the ]nn-pose of bringing oft' Roe's family, 
and a No. of others. On Friday night 12 o'clock, the Capt. left the sloop at 
Brook H. taking 14 men with him to assist in bringing down the family, 
leaving 14 under Lt. Geo. Smith on board, to guard the vessel. He pressed 
teams as he went to bring down the goods, not being able to procure them by 
other means. At 9 a.m., just as he was ready to return, he was informed by 
one of the guards that Richard Miller of B. Haven, a young gentleman of 
family and fortune, but a notorious enemy to his country (who had arms 
concealed at his house), was passing his house: upon which R. ordered his 
men to hail him, and if he refused to stop, to fire on him. He was hailed 3 
times, upon which he stopped and 5 men wdth their pieces presented told him 
they would instantly kill him if he attempted to stir. He stood and view^ed 
them half a minute, then discharged a pistol at them, and rode off with the 
utmost expedition, on which he was several times ordered to stop, but he 



i6 



CAPT. DANIEL ROE 



refusing five guns were separately fired at him. from the last of which a ball 
was shot through his body, upon which he dismounted and was carried into 
Capt. Roe's house, and left in the care of a no. of the inhabitants. Capt. R. 
being mformed that one Jacob Smith, who was in conjunction with Miller, 
and not far distant when he was taken, had collected a party of several, and 
were endeavoring to surround and take him, thought it prudent to retreat on 
board his vessel, where he had but just time to arrive with his wife and 
family, being obliged to leave all his effects behind. 

"Miller and Smith had recei\e(l commissions under the King of G. 
Britain, and had been raising men, pressing horses and wagons, together 
with persons to dri\e them, to assist Howe in removing his baggage. They 
had likewise taken fat cattle from the inhabitants, and obliged them to drive 
them to the Ministerial Armw" — Conn. Courant, Sept. 30, '76. 




Capt. Daniel Roe's Residence, Westfields. now Selden, L. I.. Erected Before the Revolutionary 
War. Rev. A. M. Roe. Fl'lton. X. V.. I. eft; (".. M. Roe. Cincinnati. ()., Right. 

No. 621. — "Oct. 28, "76. Gov. Trumbull directs 6 R. I. whale-boats, with 
36 men under Cols. Li\ingston and Richmond, with Lt. (ieo. Smith, Caleb 
Brewster and D. Roe (best acquainted with the situation of places) to take 
three transports and make the best of their wav to Southold Bay, to Canoe 
Place: thence across into South r>ay up as far as Mastic, and bring off the 
effects of Col. Floyd and others of our friends, and return as soon as possible. 
Instead of this they captured 2 sloops (Princess Mary and Lily), loading with 
wood by order of Capt. Smith, for Gen. Howe and lying at the dock, head of 
Brookhaven Harbor. Thev also surprised Capt. Smith and part of his 
company, but tleclined marching to Smithtown to attack the rest of Delancey's 
Brigade, stationed there." 

Xo. 639. — "Jan. 4, '"jj. Ensign lienj. Titus is recommended for a 2d 
Lieutenancy by Capt. Dan'l Roe and others." [All refugees from Suffolk.] 

Xo. 707. — "Petitions of Suft'olk Co. Refugees in Conn. Ap. ij. "80, Joshua 
Smith and Capt. D. Roe of B. Haven, at Aliddletown, Conn. ; Capt. D. Roe at 
Woodbury, '80: Lt. Caleb lirewster of Continental and others." [Just what 
they Avanted does not appear.] 



HIS DIARY \y 

Pao-e 258, Ai)i)en(lix. Xote to Xo 555. — "Field and staff officers of ist 
Reo-. of Suffolk Co., Win. Moyd, Col.; (iilbert Potter, Lt. Col.; Jeft'rey Sniitli 
and Jesse IJrush, Majors; Phillip Roe, Adjt. ; John Roe, Q. M." [As the 13th 
and last Ca])tain in the list a])pears "Dan'l Roe's Minute Conip."" (numbering 
76 men in all). I'hilli]) should doubtless be "Phillips" Roe, a cousin of our 
Captain, while John Roe was an older brother.] 

An old account-book, very much torn and abused, now in the possession 
of Airs. Ste])hen W. Soule of Rose, N. Y., a threat g-randdaut^hter, has a series 
of accounts between Capt. Daniel Roe and the several members of his 
company. The accounts run as thoujs^h kept in New Haven. Conn., and 
contain hft_\-six names, while torn lea\cs indicate seven others. A compari- 
son with the roll of May ist shows that all the names on this later one are 
found there, exce])t those of Jonathan King, John Dicher, Selah P>rush, Peter 
Toman and William IJassett. Wages are computed to (let. 31, 1776. Just 
one surviving page of stubs would indicate that the book once contained the 
l)ay-roll for the quarter ending July ist, '76. The final two and one-half pages 
of the book are given to entries as a justice of the peace. As manv leaves at 
the end are missing, it is impossible to tell how many cases are lost, but those 
given covering April 1-6, 1784, and March 2i-\\)r\\ 26, 1785. include no less 
than twenty-fi\-e cases. W'e might infer that the C(5mmunitv was litigious, 
not to say quarrelsome. 

Judging from contemporary sources, our ancestor was more often called 
Escjuire than Captain Roe, ci\'il office being preferred to military. For many 
years he held some form of town office; from April 3, 1798. to March 31, 1800, 
he was President of the Board of Trustees, the highest office in the town, and 
from April 7, 1807, to April 5, 1808, was again a member. 

Concerning the family flight from the Island it might be said that the 
incident has been told among the descendants with variations during the 
century and a quarter intervening. As the Rev. A. M. Roe of Fulton, X. Y., 
tells the tale told to him bv his father. Austin. "Cncle Daniel was standing in 
the doorway, a lad in his early teens, and saw Miller approaching. He w^as a 
second cousin of Grandfather, and had been to see his affianced, who lived 
some distance to the west, and had staged very late. On seeing him. Uncle 
exclaimed, 'Here comes that Torv Miller. "Avhereupon the men rushed out with 
the result as told. Among the embellishments of the narrati\e it was said 
that Miller, as he turned from the soldiers after halting, derisively slapped his 
hand ujxin that jjart of his person nearest the saddle and put spurs to his 
steed. The Rev. Andrew Roe of Marcellus. X. Y.. on seeing the Courant 
story, says. "This agrees exactly with the story as (Grandfather used to tell it, 
the latter saying that he was fourteen years (ild. and that he walked all the way 
to the landing and carried a gun."" 

(July one letter recei\ed by Captain Roe in war times is preserved, and 
it, addressed to Shelter Island, is as follows: 

Coram. August lyth, 1776. 
Sir, After mv kind love to you I have nothing remarkable to write to you 
at present I am well and my family and I believe that your wife and children is 
well for your wife was at Isaac Davis last week. Saturday. (Said Davis was 
2 



i8 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

a brother-in-law of the Captain) and I hope that these lines will find you well 
in health and Reselut in the Cause for I believe that matters is just at hand 
for I Reseeved a letter from Newyork Last Friday and by that they expect the 
atax (attack) every day and our (hour), all they wate for is a southwest 
weand (wind) the letter says, the Tores begin to hold up their heads and he 
that is not for us is against us therefore it stands us in hand to keep a brite 
lookout. I should be exceeding glad to come and see you mv will is good but 
my bisness will not admit of it. I desire that you would give my love to my 2 
brothers Nathaniel and Justice and tell them that all frinds is well I desire 
that you should send me a letter back by the Bearer hereof and I desire you 
should (send) £ 2-0-0 in the letter for I am going to Xewyork next week. So 
no more at present but I remain vour humble Servant. Isaac Overton. 

Among Ca])tain Roe's relics is an itemized account of the expenses 
incident to the death and l)urial of Private Israel Smith at Fort Montgomery, 
Feb. 7, 1777, also a very full inventory of the latter's personal effects. He is 
given as a member of Captain Roe's Company of the Second Regiment of 
New York troops, commanded by Col. James Clinton, Escp In an ancient 
account-book, nearly or quite as old as the French and Indian War, this 
record is found: "Abinday. the 17th of ^larch, 1777. Got to my family at 
Darby from Fort Montgomery." Subsequent entries indicate his presence in 
Derby or near-by towns for several years. Was this the end of his military 
service? There does not seem to be a definite answer, though it has always 
been held in the family that he was with General Sullivan's expedition against 
the Indians in 1779. In the extended publication by the State of New York 
on this famous campaign against the Indians, it would appear that the 
Captain's Company was there, under command of Captain Jonathan Titus, 
and this fact may have given rise to family traditions which frequently 
become considerably warped. 

Without date, these items are found, evidently belonging to the opening 

days of the War : 

Aly expense going Easter'd after powder was 0-13-9 
My expense in numbering the people was 1-18-5 

My thime, i.e. (time), 2-10-0 

£5- 2-2 

Why a pension for Captain Roe's services was so long delayed we can 
not, at this late date, tell, but among his letters, this from his kinsman, a 
prominent man in his day, tells that after long waiting it came at last, though 
not soon enough to be of any particular use to him : 

Brookhaven, June the 26, 1819. 

Dear Sir: I have the satisfaction to inform you that Government has 
allowed you a pension of twenty dollars per month during your life, to 
commence the 6th day of June, 1818, so that you now have more than $250 
dollars due, payable the fourth day of September next at the city of New 
York, the certificate is now in my hands ready when you call. 

(The writer discusses at some length the case of Goldsmith Davis, and 
closes thus :) 

With sentiments of respect, I remain. 

Your Friend J 
Daniel Roe, Esq. Thos. S. Strong. 



HIS DIARY ig 

Captain Roe's third son, John, is not often mentioned in the diary, 
l)ecanse of his ahsence in Xew York, and it will he ohserved that the Captain 
was concerned chiefly with matters close at home, hence it is fitting- that a 
letter from this son should be inserted. 

New York, 2^ Jan.. 1803. 

Hon'd Father: Yours of the iith inst. arrived yesterday by Cap't Tyrrel 
with the Hominy. We got it from on board this morning & have all feasted 
upon it to-day at dinner. I have heard of j-our ill health ; l)ut am now happy 
to hear of your recovery and of the safe arrival of the girls. 

I have nothing material to relate. Mr. & Mrs. Dieterich & family are 
well and return you their most friendly respects. I have not seen Mr. Sell 
to-day ; but understand that they are all well — his late contract is very 
pleasing- to his mother as well as to himself. My best respects to Mv mother 
and the family all including yourself, likewise to all the relative families. 

A\^ith filial afifection. 
Sir, yours. 

Daniel Roe. hsq. 

N. B. — The number of your ticket is 18220. The number of mine is 
21669. I tho"t it proper to mention this (as we made a little agreement 
respecting them which you will recollect) before the drawing commences 
which is a week from to-day. — so that if either of us has any other concern in 
the lottery, it may not be affected by our bargain which respects only those 
two tickets. 

As a reading of the diary will show, John Roe, the Captain's son. died 
early in 1808. His wife. Elizabeth, a Foster of Southampton, came back to 
that town and later m. Deacon Chas. Wooley, and there reared her son, the 
"Jonny" referred to in her brother Josiah's letter. On the death of her 
second husband, she went to Honesdale, Penn., where she died March 16, 
1851. Those of the family who attended the second Roe picnic, held at Port 
Pjay in the early seventies, had the pleasure of meeting this John Roe, then an 
admirably preserved gentlen-ian of sixty and past, who, with son and daughter, 
had come from his Pennsylvania home to greet his kindred. He and his well 
sustained the reputation so long accorded to the familv. 

Southampton, i6th May, 1808. 

Dear Sir : By this you will l)e informed that after I left your house I 
arrived home the next morning before 9 o'clock and by the Benefiicence of 
Providence found all well. Aly goods and efifects arrived soon after, all safe. 
I innnediately consulted Mrs. Roe (his sister) and we concurred in the 
propriety of advertising as you will see in the Suffolk Gazette — I shall expect 
Sir — you will attend vendue and as many of our Connections as can make it 
convenient. 

I have nothing special further to conmiunicate at present. }klrs. Roe is 
with us here : enjoys good health & Fittle Jonny is very well — Mrs. Roe, 
myself & Family join in sending our best respects. Sir to you. your family 
and all inquiring friends — 

Yours in sentiments of Esteem. 
Daniel Roe, Esq.'r John Foster, Jun'r. 

The intervening century has not dimmed a line or word of this letter, nor 
in any way obscured the elegant penmanship which, with the unrivaled 
signature, is worthy of a writing master in the days when calligraphy was a 
fine art. 



20 



CAPT. DANIEL ROE 



The name of Daniel, the Captain's first born and namesake, does not 
appear anvwhere in the diary, a fact to l)e accounted for as with that of John. 
The sons were awav and carins^' for themselves. Had they, like their sisters, 
happened in frecjuently, they would be on record. In the days of the journal- 
keeping" Daniel was living in Connecticut, and, if he wrote letters to his father, 
they were not preserved, nor is there mention of the receipt of any. 
However, when he moved to Wayne Count}-, he corresponded with his Brook- 
haven kindred, and many of his missives are extant at this time. His 
youngest brother, Austin, seemed to be a favorite, and among the latter's 
papers are found several long and interesting communications. The 
following is a good example of Daniel's style : 

Hudson, November 3(1, 1823, Monda}- afternoon. 
Mr. x\ustin Roe. 

Dear Brother: I arri\ed in this city about 12 o'clock this daw I called 
on a friend who persuaded me to stay with them until to morrow morning, 
after 1 concluded to stay, I went to the ri\er and there found a sloop loaded 
with clams from Islip — master or owner of the vessel, saw his name was 
Ruland who expected to return home in three or four days and could send a 
letter to Cousin Justus Roe almost any da}-. — The day I left you I arri\-ed to 
^^'i(^w Polly Roe's, Huntington. Xext day cross'd the ferry and went to 
Bridgeport put up at Mr. Lockwood". ( Probably Lambert L., son-in-law of 
Azel Roe, Captain Daniel's preacher brother.) next morning to Derby and 
in 7 or 8 days accomplished my business and started for home, if I meet with 
no extraordinary hindrance on the way I expect I may get home by Satterday 
night — I have great reason to be thankful for the good measure of health 
which I have enjoyd since I left you. yesterday, 1 got to agremont ( Egre- 
mont, Mass.), where I met Eld'r Cole, who came out from Hudson to ]:>reach 
in th ■ forenoon from there 1 went on with him to his next appointment at 
Hillsdale where he preached again & 1 there put up at a Broth'r Foster 17 
miles from this ]dace I am now 200 miles from home, you may believe I feel 
somewhat anctious to know how my family are at home. Dear Brother, my 
Hart glows with warm affection for you, your dear companion & famil}- tell 
my dear and aft'ectionate Mother 1 have some hoi)es of seeing her again in this 
world — Rememl)er me to Brother Joseph and all my Sisters and Cousins — If 
1 live to get home, I purpose to write again — farewell may the i)eace of (iOD 
rest ui)on vou and vours — }()ur afl:'ectionate brothere, 

Daniel Roe. 




School-house near Home of Capt. Daniel Roe. Near the Tree, at the Right, Tradition Says the 
Tory Captain ^Iiller Fell from his Horse in 1776. 



HIS DIARY 



21 



^Vwv. Small LLATm-:K-c()\i':Ki-:i) Tiuxk. 

W'Ik'ii the late John W. Roe of Rose, X. Y., in 18(85. passed to liis reward, 
there was found amon^" his possessions a small rece])tacle for letters and 
special papers. As his home had been that of his father. Austin, in the latter's 
old age, this l)ox had come to him, with its contents, from such ])aternal 
source. Austin, who had held the ])osition of mainstay for his father and 
mother, \\7,.. Ca])tain Daniel and Deborah IJrewster, received the trunk from 
the latter. h\u-ther than this, authentic history does not go, but we may 
conjecture indefinitely. \'ery likely hundreds of similar repositories might be 
found, but we should search far before finding one just like this, covered as it 
is with dark brown leather, on which, to]:» and front, are emblazoned, in the 
midst of elegant gilt tooling, no less than t\vel\e gilded figures of the roebuck, 
which, in all the annals of heraldry, has ever been the typical figtire of the Roe 
familv. It is lined with j^roof-sheets of some book of travel, themselves 
printed on the plain side of wall i^aper. All efforts thus far made to identify 
the book, and thus ascertain the probable age of the trunk, have failed, but 
time is long and it may yet be done. The handle, lock and key evidently 




antedate machine-made articles of the sort, for the}' are clearly hand-made. 
Did it come across the sea with our "cordwainer" ancestor, or was it ac([uired 
in some more prosaic manner? \\ ho can tell? The fact remains that the 
trunk is. The widow of John 1>. Roe graciously presented trunk and contents 
to Alfred S. Roe. knowing his fondness for ancestral facts. .V full catalogue 
of what it contains can not be gi\en now. but suffice it to state that there are 
letters many from the Rev. Azel Roe, D.D.. and from others : account-books, 
begun before the Revolution: deeds of the man^• i)l()ts of land belonging to 
Capt. Daniel Rcje and his son. Austin : the ])apers incident to the settlement of 
the estates of I^aban Worth and Joseph W. Roe; an interleaved and well- 
noted pocket almanac of 1773: an assessors' rating of IJrookhaven tax-payers, 
made for 1775, by Richard A\'oodhull and Joseph Iirewster, containing 368 
town names; bills and recei])ts bearing the signatures of scores of Brook- 
haven people of the long ago; a large package of letters addressed by 
relatives to Austin Roe, and many other interesting and entertaining items. 
It is evident, from their well-preserved condition, that the Elder Roes carried 
the key. and that to these precious papers there was no access to the younger 
members of the famil}-. to the destructive powers of whose fingers the tooth of 
time is as nothing. 



22 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

As TO THE DrARV. 

It is apparent that what we have is only a fragment. The previous 
and later portions have been lost. A\> sigh for the missing leaves, 
yet are grateful that so much remains, and every descendant, in mind 
at least, breathes a thank offering to his kinsman. B. F. Hallock of Lake 
Grove. Long Lsland. through whose quick eye and ready hand the manuscri])t 
was rescued, as already stated. Written in an old-fashioned hand, with 
unfading ink, there are sixty-six crowded pages, 8 x 6^ in size. 

The edges are somewhat frayed, especially those of the outer sheets, and 
several pages are badly stained. Paper, in those days, was scarce and none 
was wasted. There is a system evidenced in its keeping; lines drawn 
between successive days are sometimes doubled and crisscrossed to draw 
attention ; special event and incident are indicated b}- marginal characters or 
words ; almost e^•ery reference to son-in-law, Laban Worth, has a large L. in 
the border; the month, as a rule, appears only at the top of the left page, thus 
saving space. 

AAdien the Ca])tain was writing his journal, Xoah Webster was onlv 
beginning his dictionary, not to be published f(_)r twent}- vears. hence we do 
not wonder that his orthography is "free and easy," yet its peculiarity attords 
a clue to pronunciation that must have obtained upon Long Island a century 
since; for instance, with him wet is always w-e-e-t ; creature is"c-r-o-e-t-u-r-e," 
never that horrible word "crittei" so common in the ^^'est and South; just 
what pronunciation was given to his invariable "hogh"" can not Ije shown now, 
but there must have been a final aspiration, suggested by the favorite snuff of 
the porker himself; severe is always s-u-f-v-e-r. and wdiy not if si^elled 
phonetically as he pronounced it ; his "oft"' is regularly "of" and "their" does 
double duty as pronoun and adverb (there). He i)unctuates \-er}- little, 
occasionally a colon and sometimes a dash ; he is erratic in the use of caipitals ; 
his \ he wrote \ ; other peculiarities the reader may detect. 

As to subject matter, like all insular people, he notes first the weather as 
of prime importance; his record is for his con\enience, and covers things 
done and matters coming directly under his observation ; he is no sentiment- 
alist, and has no word of comment when relatives die, however near the tie, and 
of his wife, so long by his side, his companion in trials sore, there are very 
few entries; we must not think for this reason he ]o\ed her less. John Stuart 
Mill in his biogra])hy does not once name his mother. ( )ur Captain managed 
his farm ; his wife her house, and thev never clashed, for he stayed closely 
within his own domain. 

P^rom a careful reading of the diary we mav learn the times of planting 
and reaping, the manner of threshing grain, the im])ortance of cider making, 
the value of many connnodities. the amoimt of grain necessary for the 
maintenance of a small family for a year, that thatch had not entirely yielded 
to shingles, that family tailoring and shoemaking were then in vogue, that 
flax had not given ])lace to cotton, and that the loom still entered into 
woman's work, that clams were an important article of food, that rum had a 
part in household economy, and. finally, that honest living on Long Island 
meant hard work early and late, and eonstantlw Also, so long ago, it appears 



HIS DIARY 



23 



that one nicml)cr of the family was miirc hkcly to be ill on Sunday than other 
(lavs, hence Sunday sickness is not a modern trouble. Austin and Huldah, 
still unmarried, s-emed to be untlaj4sino- in church-i;()in,y- zeal. The foregoing 
gives onl-v- the salient features of what may be observed from studying the 
(liar\- ; the others are too numerous for recital. 



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The Graves of Capt. Daniel Roe and Deborah Brewster, His Wife, Selden, L. I.; the Captain's 
Grave at Right. Also Sleep Here in the .Same Inclosure .Several Children and Grandchildren. 




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?. "m """V°' 'l'^"-'"^'- °^ Capt. Daniel Roe. now in Possession of Alfred S. Roe. U .,kce.- 
TER, Mass. The Cut is Just One-quarter the .Size of the Roll Itself, thus Reducing the 
Letters and Numerals One-half Each Wav. The Indistinct Names in the Middle Crease are. 
left, .Sam l Corwin White; right. Thos. Hrevoort. 



The Diary of Captain Daniel Roe of Brook- 
haven, Long Island 



[Explanatory. — All suggestions and explanations are given in parenthesis. The writer's 
efforts to emphasize and to specially note, as by marginal words and characters, are indicated 
by figures in the entry itself, thus Wed., Feb. 26, the parenthetical stars indicate the criss- 
cross work in the border for that day. The coming of infant stock is shown by hieroglyphs, 
as may be seen in the half-tone cut, where the sow and five pigs appear. L. for Laban 
Worth, always in the margin in the manuscript, appears here in the print, i.e., at the end of 
the entry. As a rule where Christian names are used, they refer to the Captain's children 
or grandchildren. Finally, e\'erv word of the text is in jirint save two very i)rief references 
to stock.] 

1806. 

(i) Munday the 24 ( l'\'bruar}- ) wind S W : & warm I have been with 2 
Loads of wood i from home & i from the Hill l)roii!;ht home a load of 
firewood Austin has l^een Luting & Sphting Cordwood (Wood was drawn to 
the North Shore, Setauket, or Drowned ATeadow, and produced his chief 
revenue.) 

Tusday the 25. wind X. W : Clear & Cold. T have l:)een over with 2 Loads 
of wood I from home c^ i from the Hill. Austin has been Ctiting firewood in 
the Hills 

Wednesday the 26 wind W : & pleasent I ha\'e been over with i load of 
wood Austin acuting Cordwood. Daniel lirown came to see us this Evening. 
I bought 30 (lbs.) of flax of Azcl Roe brought home 11^ (lbs.) (* * " '■' *) 

Thursday the 27. wind W (S: warm. I ha^■e been o\'er with i Load of wood 
& got Sum Soft Clams. Austin has been Crackling flax. 

friday the 28 Avind X \\ . with Snow Septals. I have been Dresing flax. 
Austin has been o\'er with 2 Loads of wood. Lrother Justus Roe cal'd in on 
his wa}' home 

Saterday the. i. Day of March, wind X \V & very Cold. 1 have been 
over with i Load of \vood. .\ustin has been Crackling tlax. 

Sunday the 2. wind X W : C lear iS: Cold. I ha\'e l)een at home. Spent the 
Day in Reading. Sum of the family have been to meting at Josephs. Mr 
Newey Cal'd on his wav home. 

Munday the 3. wind X \\ : Clear & ])leasent. I have been I3resing tfax 
Austin a Crackling. Mr. Hallock & Mr. Wheelor Cal'd to see us this 
Evening. 

Tusday the 4. wind S E: with Snow; the Storm began in the fore part 
of the Day & the Storm continues ; this forenoon we got 2 Loads of firewood 
out of the Hills ; this afternor)n I have been to trustee meting. 



26 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

(2) Wednesday the 5. Day of March wind X. \\\ Clear & Cold. Jabez 
Norton & I have been to Blew point in the Slay. Austin at home taking care 
of the Creturs. 

Thursday the 6, wind N AA^ : Clear & pleasent. T have been Dresing flax. 
Austin & Hiildah is gon of upon a Slay Ride. 

friday the 7 wind S W : with Snow all Dav. I ha^'e been Dresing flax & 
taking" care of the Creturs. Austin is not got home from his Slay Ride. 

Saterday the 8, wind X \\ : with Snow Squals ; this afternoon it Cleared 
of Cold 1 have been Imployed as above. Austin is not got home yet. 

Sunday the 9 wind X'^ A\' & Clear & pleasent. I have been at home. Spent 
the Dav in Reading; the children have not got home. 

Munday the 10. wind AA' (S: Clear, we have been Sleading the wood out to 
the Road that we bought of Youriah Smith this forenoon ; this afternoon 
Austin has l^een Crackling flax. 

Tusday the 11. wind \A' & Signs of a Storm. I have been Imployed as 
above. Austin crackling flax & finnished. I Carried the Crackel to Yarring- 
ton. Austin is gon to Isaac Homons to git an ax Layd (i. e., to renew its 
edge or cutting i)art. X^ow seldom done because of the cheapness of the tool.) 

Wednesday the 12 wind N AA^ : & Signs of a storm. I have been over 
\\\\\\ \ Load of wood. Sold it to John Taylor for o- 13-6. got a gallon of 
Rum 5 papers of tobaco & ^ of peper. Austin is gon of I Know not whare 
Amos Soper put up here to night. (He married granddaughter, Sarah 
Porter.) 

Thursday the 13. wind X W : with Snow Squals. Amos Soper went from 
here this forenoon. 1 have got a load of firewood this afternoon. Richard 
Norton brought his wife home this Evening. (X'orton nearest neighbor to 
the east.) 

(A leaf missing from the manuscript, C()vcring March 14-30. 1806.) 

(3) Monday the 31 : & Last Day of March wind S AA^ & warm, this 
forenoon we have been Cuting Cordwood in our X'. Land. Brought home a 
load of firewood ; this afternoon we have been in the Hills giting out wood 
that we had of I'riah Smith & Brought home a load from their. 

Tuesday the i : Day of April wind X \\' : this Morning we had Sum Rain 
but it cleard of pleasent. I have attended Townmeting. 

Wednesday the 2: wind X AA'. Clear and Cool T have attended the 
Vandue of Daniel Bisop. Austin and Colman has been to Blew point & 
bought 1000 clams & come home. 

Thursday the 3: wind S \A'. Clear and pleasent. I have been over with 
a Load of wood & after 1 came Back I went to Hallocks to see Zopher I found 
him very week and Low, but they seem to think, that he is Sum Better. 
Austin has been Cuting Cordwood. 

friday the 4 : wind S AA' & warm I have been over with i Load of wood. 
Bought 3 Bushels of Horsfeed & after I got home I went to Daniel Tookers 
& cleend my flaxseed for soing. Austin acuting cordwood. we had a Lam 
come today. (Hierogl\])h in the border.) 



HIS DIARY 27 

Saterday the 5: wiiul \ E. & cool. 1 ha\c l)ecn over with i Load of 
wood. Carry ed Cap" \\'olscv one Ihishel of flaxseed to See. Had of him i 
gallon of Rum & 2\ lbs. of lUicwheet flower with the wait of the bagg. Austin 
choping on the Ditch N. (* '■' " * *) 

Sunday the 6: wind S E & Signs of a storm, the family at home except 
Austin ; he is gon to see Zofer Hallock as he is very sick. 

Munday the 7: wind X E Sum weet & grait Signs of a Storm. T have 
been over with i Load of wood. Austin has been at home Doing Sum trifles. 
Ruth come here this e\ening to make a pare of geers (A. AL Roe says the 
word refers to ])arts of a loom.) 

(4) Tusday the 8: Day of April Avind X E with a suf\ er (i. e., severe) 
Storm of Rain ; the storm began Last night and Continued the Most of the 
Day. no bisness Done. 

Wednesday the 9: wind X W Clear & cold. I have been over with i 
Load of wood. Austin has been cuting & spliting Rails. 1 brought home a 
load of the Rails. 

Thursday the 10: wind W & cool. I have been over with i Load of 
wood 15rought home Sum Rails & sum avoocI. Austin has been cuting 
cordwood & Rails Ave had Sum snoAV septals this CA'cning. Huldah has gon to 
Elishas. 

friday the 11: Avind X \\' & bloAvs Heavy Avith Snow Squals & A'ery Cold, 
this afternoon I haAC been spliting cordAvood & Rails Brotight home Sum 
Rails <S: Sum Avood. Austin at home Avith a complaint Avith one of his Eyes. 

Saterday the 12: Avind X A\'. Clear & Cool. I have been over Avith i 
Load of Avood. Brought home a load of Rails. Austin has been Cuting anil 
Spliting Rails & Cordwood. 1 Received the Returns of Aly Avood toDay. 

Sunday the 13: Avind \\' clear & it Continues cool. I have been at Home, 
the Children have been to meting. John E. Hallock (brother of Zophar) and 
Titus .Gold cal'd here from Aleting. 

Munday the 14: Avind X A\' Clear & cool. I have been over Avith i Load 
of wood, lirought home a load of Rails then 1 took Austins Mar & Avent to 
Esq'' Helms & paid him 25 Dollars. Austin has been cuting & spliting Rail & 
ccjrdwood. this evening he & Colman (\\^orth. a grandson) is gon to S. 
(probably South Shore) to go a claming (* * * * * ) 

Tusday the 15: Avind S W with SnoAv Squals. I have been to Blew 
point (southAvest part of toAvn) to fetch up the clames that Austin & Colman 
got at the Beech & bought 500 of Shadrik Jayn (Jayne). 

(5) Wednesday the 16: Avind S E & Sum weet. \\> had a considerable 
Rain Last night. 1 have been Loping on the fence on the W Side of the 
House I^ot. Austin has taken a load of Rails to Coram for Mr. XcAvey. 
(Lopping, i. e.. cutting the young oaks half through, so that they could be 
lopped OAcr and j^artly coA'ered with earth to make a "Ha'C oak" fence.) 

Thursday the 17: wind X W Clear & pleasent. Ave have plowd & soed the 
flax, carryed 2 loads of ashes on the ground. Zopher & his wife cal"'^ here on 
their Avav to L'oram. 



28 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

friday the i8: wind X W in the morning' & S \\' this Evening. I have 
been Mending fence. Austin has been to Blew j^oint to take the Sorrel Mar 
on the beech, but the boot was gon befor he got there so he Took the ^lar 
home again 

Saterday the 19. wind N W Clear & pleasent. I have been to Elishas. 
paid him 5 & 4 Dollers, then went to Goldsmith Davis' got \ Bushel of oats 
Came home & soed them. Austin aplowing in the liarn Lot for Corn. 
(* "^ * * *) 

Sunday the 20: wind S Fl & Signs of a storm. 1 have been at home, 
spent the Day in Reading, the Children have been to Meting at Josephs. 

Munday the 21: wind E with Rain the most of the Dav. I have l)een to 
the X Side this afternoon. Austin at home. Much Complaining with l-.oil on 
his face. 

Tusday the 22: wind E with Rain all tlu- fore ])art of the Daw this 
afternoon I have attended a vandue for John I'iler. Austin has plowd Sum. 

Wednesday the 23: wind S W & warm. 1 have been over with 1 Load 
of wood, sold it to John Taylor, then went to Esq"' Jayns, got a load of Hav, 
300 & \ of Inglish & the other thatch (coarse feed hay) cost £1715-6. Austin 
astubing lUishes. 

(6) Thursday the 24: Day of April wind X W cX ])leasent. I liaAC l)een 
plowing in the IJarn Lot for Corn. Austin astubing up Scruboaks in our \\ 
Land, where we mean to plant. 

friday the 25: wind W. Clear & pleasent. I have been plowing in the Barn 
Lot X hnished & got a load of fire-wood out of the Hills. Austin Liiployd as 
al)ove. 

Saterday the 26: wind S E. T Began to plow in our AA^ land for Cc^rn. 
Austin a clearing Ijefore tlu' ])low. it came on to Rain about ten oclock which 
])ut us of & continued to Rain all Day. 

Sunday 27: wind .X X Signs of Rain. 1 have been at home; the Children 
.Sum of them ha\'e been to meting 

Munday the 28: wind S W , Cloude}' & Signs of Rain. I hav.^ been 
jjlowing Austin X Porter aclearing before the Plow. 

Tuesday the 29: wind X W X Showery. I ha\e been plowing this 
forenoon, this afternoon 1 haxe l)een to Drown madow (since 183O Port 
Jefferson) to fetch a barrel of pork X a barrel of tlow.'r for Laben. 1 took 
over a small turn of wcxxl Austin is gon to IJlew point to take the Sorrel Mar 
on the Beech. (Great South Beach extends along a large part of Long 
Island's sr)uthern coast. Itself an island, it affords i)asturage and hav to 
farmers who own rights u])on it.) 

'Wednesday the 30: & Last Day of April, wind X \\ & Cool. I have 
been plowing. Austin got home from the Beech this forenoon : this afternoon 
he has been cleering l)efore the ])low. Colman Put the glas in the locr part 
of the Bedroom window. 

(7) Thursday the i: Day of May. wind X \\ X Cool 1 have been 
stubing up scrub oaks .Austin jdowing. 



HIS DIARY 29 

friday the 2: wind X W 6c it continues Coal. We liave l)een Ini])l()ycl 
as aliovc. I tinislied Cleerin^- the ground Ijcfore the i)lo\v. 

Saterday the 3: wind X W Clear & Coal. 1 have attended a vandiie of 
John Tilers Austin tinnished plowing for Corn. 

Sunday the 4: wind S W" & warm. 1 have l:)een to metin^- this Evening 
at Josephs to here AJr Ridstone. the ehildren ]ia\-e heen to metin"-. \\'e lost a 
Sheej) to Day. ( * * " ■■' " ) 

Munday the 5: wind S W & warm. We have been Setint^- a fence from 
the g-arait (great ?) Lot Down to the llarn Lot. 

Tusday the 6 wind W & Warm. I have been to carry My Hids to the 
tanners. I went by the way of Elishas. Took a hide for him. Austin began to 
plant Corn with the hel]) of Colman. (* * * *) 

Wednesday the 7: wind W S W'. Warm & Sum weet this Morning, we 
ha\e been ])lanting corn in the W Lot. Colman has been helping. 

Thursday the 8: wind S E Cloudey Dulweather with Sum w-eet. T have 
been to Judge Strongs & got a load of Liglish hay. Austin finished ])lanting 
Cc^rn. 

friday the 9: wind S \\' & Blows very heavey with Showers of Rain, this 
forenoon we have been Reparing the fence around the W Lot until the Rain 
put us of. this afternoon we have put up Sum fence the E side of the Cow 
yard 

Saterday the 10: wind W: Clear &: Coal, we have planted our potatos 
both Sweet & Common tK: also our other garden affares. 

(8) Sunday the 11 Day of May: wind N W & Warm. I have been at 
home, the Children have been to meting. Zopher &; his wife &: Children John 
Hallocks wdfe & polly Eoot cal'd here on the w-ay home from Meting. 

Munday the 12: wind X" W in the morning &: S W in the afternoon, we 
have been giting Posts & Rails this forenoon, this afternoon we have wash'd 
our Sheep. 

Tusday the 13 wind S E & Coal, we have l)een tc^ the Beech a claming. 
Brought up 2000 Clams 

Wednesday the 14 wind X E & Signs of a storm. 1 have been i)uting 
up things in the Corn to Keep the Croes of. Austin has been plowing for 
John Hulls (Hulse). 

Thursday the 15: wind X E: in the forenoon & S AV this evening & Coal. 
this forenoon 1 have been Cuting Sum Rail timber. Austin has been ])lowing 
for John Hulls, this afternoon we have sheard the Sheep 

friday the 16. wind S W & Warm to Day but Coal this Evening: this 
forenoon 1 have been Spliting Rails. Austin took a load of Rails to Mr 
Neweys that he brought from his old ]:)lace. this afternoon 1 have been over 
with a load of wood. Sold it to Taylor. Austin has been boiling (mortising) 
posts. 

Saterday the 17: wind S W »fc warm Days & Coal XTghts & Drie. we 
have been mending the oven & puting up post & Rail fence around the Back 
Door yard Daniel Brown & his Daughter come to see us to Day. 



30 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

(9) Sunday the 18: wind S W &: Warm. I have been at home. Spent 
the Day in Reading the I5il)le. the Chiklren have been to Meting. Austin is 
gon to Branch to meting. (Smithtown Branch, in town of that name, a few 
miles westward.) Daniel Brown & his wife come here & want to meting at 
Coram to hear Mr Overton. 

Munday the 19: wind S W & Warm & \ery Drie. we ha\'e been giting 
Posts & Rails & puting up Sum Lenths (lengths). 

Tusday the 20 wind S E & Sum Signs of Rain which is very much 
"wanted, we have finnished the fence around the Back Dore vard. Daniel 
Brown cal'd here on his way to the Riverhead. 1 sent the Alonev bv him to 
pay my Interest at the Lone ofifis. 

Wednesday the 21. wind X E Coal & Signs of a stc^rm. I have been fixing 
to go to Mill & Doing Sum triHes al)out home. Austin has been ^looveing 
Sum cordwood. 

Thursday the 22: wind E & Coal, no Rain yet. I have been to ]^Iill at 
Patchog. carryed 6 Bushels of Rie & i| of wheet dt i of Corn. Austin Laben & 
Colman went with me to go to the Beech aguning. 

friday the 23. wind X E & the storm began a little past the middle of the 
Day. Brothers Justus & Austin col'd to See us this forenoon on their way 
home, they went from here just as the Storm began. I have been at home 
adoing but Little Bisness. 

Saterday the 24: wind N E with Rain the most of the Day. 1 have cut & 
got home a load of wood in the Rain. Joel Davis cal'd here on his way home & 
staid the night. 

Sunday the 25: wind S W this afternoon & warm. Huldah & I have 
been to patchog to meting, cal'd at Elishas took Ruth with us. I Expected our 
Children of the Beech but they had not (come). 

(10) Munday the 26: Day of May wind X E: & warm. I have been 
giting Harrow teeth & fiting the Corn harrow. & planting Sum Warter 
Millins. Mr Xewey cal'd here. I turned our horses to pasture this mc^rning &; 
took them up this evening. 

Tusday the 27 wind S E in the morning & S \V this Evening. I have been 
to S. to fetch up our peo])le that have been to the Beech, they got Sum 
Horsfish & that was prety much all. 

Wednesday the 28 wind S W & warm, we have been Ditching along by 
the N Lot Rie. Huldah & Austin is gon to Hallocks this Evening. 

Thursday the 29: wind S \V & Warm, we have been Imploy as above, 
this is the first night our Horses Has Laid out in Pastur. 

friday the 30: wind S E & Signs of Rain, we finnished our Ditch to Day. 
Brother Justus Roe cal'd to see us this evening & put up with us for the night. 

Saterday the 31 : & Last Day of May wind S W^ we had a considerable 
Rain Last night & it Continued to Rain all the fore part of the Day. this 
afternoon we have been Mending Sum fence the X End of our Corn Brother 
Justus went from here this afternoon. Austin is gon W ward this afternoon 

Sunday the i : Day of June wind S W & Warm, this afternoon their Came 



HIS DIARY 31 

lip a heavev Sqiial of wind & Rain out of the \ W . 1 have Ijeen to meting' to 
Dav at Jose])hs to here Mr. Finnegin 

(11) Munday the 2 wind S W tS: Warm, this forenoon 1 l)eg'an to 
Harrow Corn in the I'arn lot ahout 11 of the Clock Austin came home <!s: Mr 
Hallock with him. Mr. Hallock injo\nd it upon me to go with him to the 
Middle of the Island with him upon Sum llisness & 1 went with him «S: Austin 
took the Horse 

Tusday the 3 wind S. & Coal nights & warm Days. I have heen to the 
trustee meting". I got Rid of the negro. I hought a grat wheel of Zacariah 
Howkins for 22 (])robably shillings) paid him 2 Dollars toward it. we have 
been at work in the corn. 

Wednesday the 4: wind S W & warm Days & Cool nights, we had a light 
frost Last night, we ha\e been at work in the corn & Porter has helped to 
Day. I bought 4 & 4 Dozen of liass to Day. 

Thursday the 5. wind S W & wanu. we finnished the Corn in the I5arn 
Lot & Harrowed the graiter jjart of the Corn in the X Lot on.' way. porter 
helped the forenoon, the Little Sow' brought forth 5 Pigs Last night. (Sow 
and five pigs in hieroglyphs in bc^rder. ) 

friday the 6 wind S E & Sign of Rain. 1 have been Harrowing corn in the 
N Lot & Austin & porter ahoing. The old Read (red) cow Calved to Day. 
(Border has hieroglyphic calf.) 

Satterday the 7 wind S E & warm, we have all been Lnployd as abcn^e. 
Turned our Horses in the W Lot to Day for the first this year. 

Sunday the 8: wind S W & very warm, we had a Small Showier of Rain. 
I have been at home. Spent the Day in Reading my bible, the Children have 
been to meting, we had 2 Lams come to Day, i whit & i black., (Two figures 
in border.) 

Munday the g: wind S E & Sign of Rain. I have been hoing corn. Austin 
& Colman Sat out this Morning Very Arley to go to the Beech after Clams & 
Horsfeet (used for fertilizer). 

(12) Tusday the 10 Day of June wind S E: Cloudey this forenoon. I 
ha\e been Harrowing Corn, Austin & Colman ahoing. this afternoon I have 
been after mv Mar that Isaac Smith & David Overton fetch'd of th_' Beech 
(* * * '' *) ' 

Wednesday the 11 : wind S \\' & \'ery warm we have been at work in the 
Corn this afternoon I have been to a frinds Meting at Coram. 

Thursday the 12 wind \\' & grait want of Rain, we finished Hoing out our 
Corn the first time this forenoon, this afternoon we have been mending the 
fence the E Side of our W Lot. 

friday the 13: wind S \V & very Drie weather. I have been giting Been 
poles this forenoon, this afternoon 1 have been to Mr. Xeweys & got the gray 
& Sorrel Mars Shews Sat & Sum thing done to i of ni}- wagon wheels. 

Saterday the 14: wind N W in the Morning & S \\' in the afternoon & it 
Continues Very Drie. we have been giting Sum poles for the Loer well this 
forenoon, this afternoon I have been Dresing them out. Austin has been 
Carting Rails & firewood for Laben. L. 



32 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Sunday the 15: wind S W in the fore part of the Day. the wind Shifted 
toward night into the X. & brought up a smal Shower of Rain : I have been at 
home. Daniel Brown & wife & Elisha & his wife Came here & went to meting 
with our Children at Josephs to hear a new preacher viz. Mr. Colman 

Munday the 16: wind X A\" : in the morning & S \\ : in the afternoon w^e 
have been Cleaning out & Reparing the Loer well, after we hafl Done the 
well we got a load of Stumps out of the Corn. 

(Apparently three leaves gone from the manuscrii)t, June 17 — Julv 29.) 

(13) Wednesday the 30 (July) wind S \\\ I have been hoing in the 
Corn. Austin has been grinding a new Sith (scythe) & Doing Sum trifels 
about home, w^e had a fine Shower this Evening which was very much wai\ted. 

Thursday the 31: wind X E: I have been to carry Labens familv & 
Huldah to the X Side to go to the Camp Meting. Austin has ])lowd a turnap 
pece. we had another Shower this Evening. 

friday the i Day of August wind S A\ & Signs of Rain, we have finnished 
giting out our Dung tS: I have Sold the Turnaps : Zopher Come to See us 
brought his Daughter & Left her to Stay a wdiile. 

Saterday the 2 : wind S E & warm with Rain all the fore part of the Day. 
but Little liisness Done. Austin has l)een s])ining Sum Ro]ie yarn this 
afternoon 

Sunday the 3. wind X W Clear &: ])leasent. no Meting to Day 

Munday the 4. wind .S W & warm. I ha\e l)een to l^ine-neck to carry 
Austin their to Moe Sum gras that we took of Brother Austin. I l^rought 
home a wagon bodey ful of Hay that John Smith Cut on our Rite throw a 
mistake Last week. 

Tusday the 5: wind X E: with Rain: it came on very Heavey this 
afternoon. La1)en had \\\ horses & wagon & went over in the thickest of it. 
Huldah Came home with Joseph: Daniel llrown Came Here & he &: I went to 
trustee meting. 

(14) Wednesday the 6 Day of August wind S W tS: warm. I have 1)een 
to Pine neck to fetch Austin u]) ts: 1 ]>rought u]) a load of Seeweed. 

Thursday the 7 wind S W & Signs of a storm. I have been to Xathanel 
Smiths & got Sum felley stuf to Rim my wheels, then I went to Coram l)y 
Request of Elisha Overton. 

friday the 8. wind S W (S: warm, this ^Morning I got Laben to jnit 2 felles 
& I spok in my wagon wdieel & Xewey to ]nit 3 stri])s of tire on them, then 
we went to pine neck & winred (winrow^ed ?) all our hay that we had their cv 
staid all night at L.rother Austins. 

Saterday the g: wind .S W : we had a little Das (h) of Rain this morning 
but it Soon Cleard of we maid up oiu' hay «& Isrought a load home 

Sunday the 10. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at home, the 
Children been to Meting. Austin is gon to the old mans (on the north shore). 

Munday the 11. wind X A\' : Clear & Warm. 1 have been Sprouting 
Jlushes in the new ground Stidd)le : Austin & Colman is gon to pine neck to 
git our hay of the meadow & put it in sack (stack ?) &: bring up a load — we 
Lost our Largest hogh to day. (" * * * *) 







f 














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r^- — \/ r' ]i 'T^ '^' C^-t"*^ -— —-.-fc, ' » " "/i' ji ^y^ — " ~ 






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A Reproduction of Page ii of the MS., Page 31 of this P.ook. 



34 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Tusday the 12. wind S A\" & Signs of a storm. I have been Sprouting 
Bushes, Austin come up with a load of hay this morning & then he went to 
work with me. we Kild a lam this Evening. 

(15) Wednesday the 13. wind S E with a heavey Rain, the Storm 
began Last night & Continued the Alost of the Day. but Little Bisness Done 
to Day 

Thursday the 14 wind S E & warm this forenoon, we finnished Sprouting 
Bushes in the new ground Stubble this afternoon. I have been picking up 
apples. Austin & B : billey ha^'e been thrashing, they thrashd & Cleand up 4 
Bushels & 3 peacks of Rie. ( B. billey = lUack Billy, a negro long in D. R.'s 
employ.) 

friday the 15. wind S: with Rain the Most of the Day. we have been 
picking up apples &; makeing Sider. Laben Made with us. we got out 2 Barrels 
& Laben \\ Barrels. l)iit Did not Cut Down the press. (* * * * *) 

Saterday the 16 wind S E with Rain. I have been to Mill at the Middle of 
the Island. Carryed 4 Bushels & 3 peacks of Rie: got 15 (feet ?) Bord their. 
Austin has been Spining Sum Rope yarn 

Sunday the 17. wind S W: Clear & warm. 1 have l:)een at home. Spent 
the Day in reading, the Children have loeen to meting at Coram. 

Munday the 18. wind X. W : Clear «&: pleasent. we began to plow our new 
ground Stul)lde to Day. Austin & Laben Set out to go to the beech this 
afternoon. I ha\'e been plowing a little. 

Tusday the ig. wind S A\' : 1 have been plowing. Austin is not got home 
from the beech. Mr. Hulls & Xath'el Smith has l)een to See us. 

(16) Wednesday August the 20: wind X & pleasent. I have been 
plowing. Austin got home from the Beech Last night & is not very well. 
Brother Justus cal'd to see us on his way home. 

Thursday the 21. wind S E: & warm, I have been to pineneck & fetchd 
up a Load of hay. Austin & Joseph has been thatching the Barn. Colman Has 
been helping. 

friday the 22. wind S W & warm, this forenoon we have been thatching 
the Barn, this afternoon I have been to Blew point on Sum Bisness. 

Saterday the 23. wind: S \V with a sufver (severe) Storm of Rain with 
heavev thunder «!\: Sharp Litning. the storm continued all Day & (is ?) Like 
to Continue, no Bisness Done. 1 have been to Coram on Sum Bisness. Phebe 
Wood was Buried to day. 

Sunday the 24. the wind has Shifted into the X E : & Blows very Heavey 
& the storm continues very sufver: the family all at home. 

Munday the 25: wind AA' : Clear & pleasent. I have been Cuting wood, 
Austin a plowing. 

Tusday the 26: wind S. E: Clear & warm 1 have been to pineneck for 
the Last of Aly hay [oseph went Down to Carry Austin & porter to go on the 
Beech to Moe for him & he Brought up a load for Me. 

Wednesday the 27. wind X AA' Clear & pleasent. I have been plowing. 
Austin is not got home from the Beech 



HIS DIARY 35 

(17) Thursday the 28. Aviml : A\' & warm, this forenoon I have been 
picking up a])ples & Austin ajtlowing. this afternoon I liave been to Blew- 
point & Austin has been jMcking up apples & took a load to the Mill. 

friday the 29. wind S W : this forenoon we have been giting apples to the 
Mill. Austin agrinding & making Sider. this afternoon T have had a trial with 
Isaac Smith about his bringing My man of the Beech. Austin got out 6i 
Barrels of Sider & got it home. 

Saterday the 30. wind S W & warm. I have been over with a load of wood 
& sold it to Esq'' (Phillips Roe ?) Roe for the grass on a rite of madow that he 
Clames on the S Beech Austin & B : Billey a thrashing Rie to soe 

Sunday the 31. wind S AV : & warm. I have been at home. Austin has 
Rode of I Know not whare. Huldah went home with Daniel Brown Last 
frida\' Exouing & is not g<^t home. 

Munday the i : Day of September wind S E &: it Came on to Rain this 
afternoon. I have been unwell. Austin has been plowing this forenoon : 
Daniel lirown brought Huldah home Last night. (* * * '^ '■') 

Tusday the 2. wind S E : with astedey Rain all Day. we had Heavey 
thunder & Sharp Litning Last night, no bisness Done to Day. 

Wednesday the 3: wind S E with Rain until Sum time this afternoon. I 
have helpd Xathanel Smith Make a Rope. Austin has plowed Sum this 
afternoon. 

(18) Thursday the 4 Day of September wind N W : Clear & pleasent. 
this forenoon we have taken Sum Clover Heads to Josephs Barn & put them 
asttning in order for thrashing, this afternoon we have Soe'd our N Corn & 
Harrowed it over once, we went with 4 harrows. I followed one, Joseph 
Brewster & Colman followed the others & Austin Soe'd the Rie & after we 
had Done harrowing He & Colman Soe'd the gras seed & got a load of fire 
wood. 

friday the 5. wind variable from the N W to the S E : & Signs of a storm. 
I have been harrowing in Rie among the Corn. Austin is gon to the Beech 
with Joseph to help him git up his hay. (Evidently, rye was sowed before the 
corn was cut. ) 

Saterday the 6 wind X A\^ : & pleasent. this forenoon we finnished 
Harrowing in Rie among the Corn, this afternoon I have been Beeting of the 
bushes Austin & Billey has been at work at the Clover seed. 

Sunday the 7. wind E : Cloudy & Sum Rain. I have been at home. Daniel 
Brown come here & took Huldah home with him as his wife was Put to Bead 
Last night with a son. (James.) (''^ '^ ''' * *) 

Munday the 8. wind S E : Cloudey Dul weather, this forenoon I have 
Harrowed the new ground Stubble once over, this afternoon Austin has been 
Seeing & I have harrowed Sum. in the forenoon We thrashed 4 Bushels of 
seed Rie 

Tusday the g. wind S A\\ I have been harrowing in Rie this forenoon. 
Austin finnished Soeing the Rie & Soed the gras Seed this afternoon. I have 
been to Hallocks & got a rum Hogset. Austin & porter has been picking up 
apples. 



36 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

(19) Wednesday the 10 wind X W: we have been making Sider, made 
3^ Barrels fil'd 2 Hogsits in the Barn. 

Thursday the 11 Avind X E Clear & pleasent. this morning I have l)een to 
carry Austin & porter to go on the Beech, this afternoon I have l)een harrow- 
ing in Rie in the new ground Stubble. 

friday the 12: wind S E: Cloudy & it come on to Rain this Evening I 
finnished Harrowing the new ground Stubble & got a load of firewood, then 
My wife & I went to Brother Isaac Davis's to see their sick Sun & found him 
to all appearance near the Close of Life. 

Saterday the 13 wind S E: with showery Rain this morning with Sum 
thunder, this afternoon it Clear'd of with the wind X A\\ I went to Patchog to 
fetch up Austin & Porter but they had not got of the Beech so that I came 
back without them. 

Sunday the 14: wind W Clear & warm. Huldah &: I have been to the 
funeral of Azel Da^•is (nephew) who Departed this Life yesterday morning. 

Munday the 15. wind S W : Clear & warm, we have been toping Corn. 
Porter has been helping 

Tusday the 16. wind S AV : Clear & pleasent. this forenoon we have been 
toping Corn in the XT Lot. this afternoon I have been to Blewpoint brought 
up 600 Clams & 2 Hogsets, 1 for mySelf & i for LTriah Smith Austin has been 
binding «& stacking Stalks. 

Wednesday the 17. wind AV : Clear & very warm. I have been Binding 
Stalks. Austin has been Soeing & Harrowing in Rie for Mr. Newey 

Thursday the 18. wind S A\'. this forenoon I have been Stacking Stalks in 
the XT Lot. this afternoon I have been to Coram to assist Elisha in a trial with 
John Da}'ton. Austin Imployed as above. 

(20) friday the 19. Day of September wind S W. I have been to Blew- 
point to Carrv Austin & Porter to go to the Beech to fetch of hay I Brought 
up a hoghset for Jabez Xort. (X^orton ?) 

Saterday the 20 wind S E: Cloudey & Signs of Rain, this forenoon I have 
been in Search of our Sheep but Could not find them, this afternoon I have 
been giting firewood. (Sheep ran at large.) 

Sunday the 21 wind S W : with Cloudey Dul weather. I have l)een at 
home, the Children have been to meting. Daniel Brown Came here with 2 of 
his Children & Huldah went to meting with him at Coram Austin is not got 
home from the Beech 

Munday the 22. wind X E : with Rain the most of the Day but Little 
Bisness Done. I have Moved Sum hay in the Barn. Austin is not got home 
yet. I put the hogs up (last words obscure, but probably "for fatting"). 

Tusday the 23: wind X^ E : & Coal. I have been to S. & INIet our Peopl 
Just got of the Beech with a load of Hay. I took a load out & came home 
Willard Ruland was ahelping them & they went Back for another Load. 

Wednesday the 24. wind X' E: Cloudey Mistey weather. I have been to 
meet our People that ar gon on the Beech, but they had not got of So that I 
took a load & Come home. 



HIS DIARY 37 

Thursday the 25. wind X E: with Sum weet. T have been again to meet 
Austin & Porter from the Reeeh but they had not got of. 1 got Wm Wicks to 
take his Boot & go in persute of them we found them agrounded on the flats 
& not Loaded So I Left them Sum Supplys & Returned. 

friday the 26 wind X E with Rain, all Day no Bisness Done. Austin is 
not got home yet 

(21 ) Saterday the 27 wind N W : & it has Clear'd of. I have Cut & 
Carted 2 Loads of firewood i for my Self & I for B: Billey. Austin & porter 
got home this forenoon 

Sunday the 28: wind X ^^' : Clear & pleasent I have (been) at home, the 
children have been to meting. Ruth & Huldah came Back from Daniel Browns 
this Evening 

Munday the 29. wind S E. tbis forenoon I have been Cuting up Corn in 
the Barn Lot. Austin & Billey thrashing Rie. thev Cleared up 6 Bushels & I 
Set out to go to Mill. Just as I got in the Hills their Came on a very heavy 
Rain so that I turn'd & went to Elishas & put up for the night 

Tusday the 30. & Last Day of September w ind from the S E : to the N W 
wath Rain the Most of the Day. I Set out Early this Morning from Elishas & 
went to Mill. Carryed 6 Bushels of Rie Austin has been picking up Sum 
apples. 

Wednesday the i. Day of October wind X^ W Clear & pleasent. we have 
been picking up apples & making Sider Brought home 4 Barrels & fil'd a 
hoghet (hogshead). Porter helped us. ('■' '■' * '''^ '^) 

Thursday the 2. wdnd X W & Clear weather, this forenoon we got home 
the Last of our Sider. w^e had 9 Barrels of Sider & i Barrel of water Sider. 
Brother Austin cal'd here on his way home & informed us that brother Justus 
was very sick so that I went over to see him : afer I set out I found 9: of our 
sheep Austin took them home & I went on. (Water cider=:the result of 
running water through the press after the first pressing.) 

friday the 3. wind S AA' : I staid with Brother Justus Last night, to Day 
I came home, he appeared Sum Better when I came away. Austin has been 
Cuting Stalks. 

{22) Saterday the 4. Day of October wind S W : & warm, this forenoon 
I have been Cuting up Corn in the N Lot. Austin abinding topstalks. this 
afternoon I have been Stacking Stalks & Corn. Austin has been Binding the 
Corn that I Cut in the forenoon, this Evening he is gon over to See his unkel 
Justus Roe 

Sunday the 5 wind X^ W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at home. Daniel 
Brown came to meting at Josephs, Brought his wife & Zophers wife & Left 
them. 

Munday the 6 wind S W : & pleasent. I have finnished Binding & 
Stacking up our Corn in the X Lot this forenoon : this afternoon I have put a 
tung in my wagon: Austin & Stphen (nephew) Roe Came, Came from 
Setalket & Say that 15rother Justus is more complaining. 

Tusday the 7, wind X : & more Coal. I have been Diging up Potatos. 



38 CAPT. DAN/EL ROE 

Austin is gon to S. to Take care of our hay as it is Like to take hurt in the 
Stack as it was put up Damj). there came a messeng-er to inform us that 
Brother Justus Departed this Life this Mornino- & the funeral is to (be) 
attended tomorow at 2 of the Clock. Ruth came to see us this Evening-. 

Wednesday the 8. this Day we have attended the funeral of My Dises'd 
Brother — Zopher fetch'd his wife horn this Evening (* * =■•' * *) 

Thursday the g. wind S W : & warm, we have been giting our Corn 
together in a stack in the Barn Lot : Stephen Roe & his ]\Iother & Sister cal'd 
to see us on their way home. Daniel Brown fetch'd his wife home to Day. 
Ruth went home (Stephen, etc., family of Austin, the younger brother). 

(23) friday the 10. wind X E: & Coal. I have been Diging potatos & 
other work. Austin & porter has been giting out Dung & they have got the 
Stalk in out of the Barn Lot where they are Carting the Dung. (This is the 
field opposite the dwelling, where the barn used to be.) 

Saterday the 11: wind S E: Cloudey & Signs of Rain we have all l)een 
Iniploy'd as above. Elisha came here this Evining he took ]\Iy mar & is gon 
to AA^illiam Swazeys on Sum Bisness. 

Sunday the 12 wind S: Cloudey & warm, the family at home no meting 
to Day. Elisha went home from here this forenoon. 

Munday the 13. we had a heavey Rain Last night it Cleared of to Day 
with the wind at \\' : I have been at work about home. Austin has been 
plowing in the Barn Lot for wheet. Porter has been Spreading Dung before 
him. 

Tusday the 14 wind N AA' : Clear & pleasent. we began to Soe 
our wheet: Brother Austin come home to Day & brought our 
Brother Justus's Chest of Riting (was this the little brown 
trunk?) for me to Carry to Setalket to be Inspected by the Executors 
of his will. Elisha ( )verton & Joshua Tarey (Terry) came here 
this Evening. Elisha got 6 lbs. of clover Seed &: 3 ])oints of timoth}- Seed Tarey 
had a bushel of seed wheet for which he paid me 2 Dollars. 

Wednesday the 15. wind N \\^ : Clear & Coal. I have been to Setalket to 
IMet the Executors of Brother Justus Roe, Deces'd, to take an Inventory of his 
affects. Austin has finnished Soing our wheet. 

Thursday the 16 wind \A' : & Clear, we have been Soing grass Seed & 
B)ushing it in. we have got in our potatos. Austin has carted Sum timber for 
Porter to fix his Seller (i. e.. cellar). 

(24) friday the 17 Day of October wind X W : Clear & Cold \\> have 
finnished Soing our grass Seed in the liarn Lot & Bushed it in. we have 
shaken Down our apples in the E: orched & got the winter apples in. Colman 
help'd this afternoon, we kil'd a vearling bul this afternoon. I have been to 
Coram this Evening & paid Escjr Hulls 7 Dollars & 36 cents to ])ay a 
judgment & cost that Isaac Smith Recovered of Me. 

Saterday the 18: wind S A\' & Signs of Rain, this morning we Kil'd a fat 
Sow & then Austin went & Cut wood with Colman. I have been Cuting up & 
Salting the Beef that we Kil'd Last night, this afternoon x\ustin has been 
gathering the apples in the orched. I went to i)ineneck on Sum Bisness & 



HIS DIARY 



39 



Staid all night, we had Sum Rain in the Evening, we had a hard frost Last 
night. 

Sunday the 19. wind N W : it has cleared of pleasent. I came home this 
forenoon from S. Zopher came here in the chas & went to meting at Coram. 
Huldah went with him. 

Munday the 20. wind N W : Clear & pleasent. I have been Carting wood, 
got 2 Loads for Laben out of his \\' Land & i Load for B : Billey. then I got a 
load out of our N. wood for my Self: Austin & Billey has been thrashing 
wheet. (* * * " *) 




Daniel Roe, Hutler. Wayne Co.. X. \'.. I-^ldest So\ of Capt. Daniel Roe. 



Tusday the 21. wind N: & Sum Signs of a storm, this forenoon I have 
been giting firewood, this afternoon I have finnished gathering our apples. 
Austin & B : Billey has been thrashing wheet. they finnished all the wheet. 
Austin has a number of hands ahelping Husk Corn this E\-ening. 

Wednesday the 22. wind X E &: grait Signs of a Storm, we have got in the 
Corn we had Husk'd Last night & cleand up the Last of our wheet their was 
14^ Bushels. Richard Norton Mov'd His wife home to Day. Had my Mar & 
wagon. 

(25) Thursday the 23d wind X E: Cloudey & coal, we have been 
Making Sider we I)r()ught h<nne 4 Barrels. 



40 CAPT. DAXIEL ROE 

friday the 24 wind N E & Coal, this Morning we have heen to the Sider- 
mill & cut down the press & brought home the Last of our Sider. we had 6 
Barrels & 1 of water Sider. this afternoon we have got in our top stalks out of 
our N Corn. 

Satcrday the 25 wind X W & it has Clear'd of Cold. I have Dug up the 
Last of our potatos & I have been to Coram to met the Executors of the estate 
of Brother Justus Roe's estate Deses'd to see his will Prov'd- Austin has been 
giting out the Hogh pen menure. (* * ''' * *) 

Sunday the 26. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at home, the 
Children have been to meting at Josephs. Huldah went to Elishas Last night 
& came home this Evening. C^' '^ * *) 

Munday the 27. wind W : Clear & w^arm : this forenoon I have been 
Sheling Corn. Austin has plowed a small Peece of ground wdiare we had flax 
& we have Soed it with wheet & grass Seed & Harrowed it in. 

Tusday the 28. wind S A\' : & Signs of a storm- this forenoon I have 
Spread out our flax, this afternoon I have been to Coram got ^Ir Xewey to do 
Sum w^ork for me for which he charg'd me £0-4-0. I paid him £0-2-3. 
Austin has been thrashing with Richard Xorton. (* * '•^' * *) 

Wednesday the 29. Avind W. Clear »S: warm. I have been over with a load 
of Cordwood for Laben. Austin has been tlirashing. Richard has been helping. 

Thursday the 30 wind X E: with Rain all Day. we have been liinding 
Straw for thatching. Austin is gon to Hallocks this Evening. 

(26) friday the 31. & Last Day of October wind N & Sum weet I hav? 
been giting firewood, got 2 Loads. Austin got home from Hallocks about 
noon. 

Saterday the i. Day of November wind XT W : Clear & Coal. I have been 
to mil at Patchog. Carryed 7 Bushels of Rie 3^. of wheet & 4^ of Corn. I got 
Mr Wagons to Shew the Soral i^Iar. then I went to Brother Austins & 
Brought a case from their that fel to me from 15rother Justus. Austin has 
been binding Straw^ for thatching 

Sunday the 2 a small Eair of wind from the X'^ W Clear & pleasent. I have 
been at home, spent the Day in Reading, the Children have been to meting at 
Josephs 

Munday the 3 wind X'^ : & pleasent. I have been over with a load of Cord- 
wood. Austin abinding Straw 

Tusday the 4 wind X : & warm for the Seson. I have been over wdth a 
load of Cordwood: Austin & Porter has been thatching the X side of the Roof 
of the Barn : or began it. 

Wednesday the 5. wind X. & pleasent. I have been to the Shore wdth a 
load of Cordw'ood from thence I went to Setalket & Staid all night, Jesse Roe. 
Austin & porter has been Iniploved as above & finnished the Roof all but the 
Ridg. 

Thursday the 6. wind S E: Cloudey & Signs of Rain. I Came home from 
Setalket this morning & took the Hors home that Brother Justus Roe Left me 
& Left the Sorral Mar with Cusen Jesse to use until I cal'd for Her. Austin 
finnished Ridg of the Barn with my help. (* * * * *) 



H/S DIARY 41 

{2y) friday the 7. wind S E : with Rain all the Day but Little Bisness- 
Done. Porter came here this morning- & we went to Husk a load of Corn but 
it Came on to Rain &: we Came Home. 

Saterday the 8: wind S AV : Clear & pleasent : this forenoon I have been- 
wagoning firew'ood- Austin & porter has been Cuting. we got 4 Loads, this 
afternoon they have been Cuting up Corn. I have been giting it home, got 2 
Loads into the Barn. Daniel Brown &: his 2 Daughters cal'd here this Evening. 
Huldah is gon their. 

Sunday the g. wnnd S A\' : &: warm. I have been at home. Austin is gon tO' 
the N side. Huldah Came Home from Daniel Browns this Evening. 

Munday the 10. wind N W : Clear & Coal. I have been to S. Carryed A 
Barel of Sider for Hiram Jones &; a cagg of Sider for Moses Wicks, then went 
to pine neck & Brought away a bead (bed) & Sum other things from Brother 
Austin that Brother Justus gave to me in his will. 

Tusday the 11. wind X W : T have been to the Shore with a load of Cord- 
wood. Austin has been Husking Corn in the Barn this forenoon, this afternoon 
he has been Cuting up Corn in the X Lot & when I came back I took a load 
home 

Wednesday the 12 wind S W: with Rain, it come on to Rain this after- 
noon, in the forenoon we got in a load of Corn, this afternoon I have been 
Husking Corn in the Barn, Austin has been training (militia). 

(28) Thursday the 13 Day of November wind X \A' Clear & pleasent. I 
have been over w'ith a load of wood. Austin agathering Corn & after I came 
back I got the Corn in- Decon Foster brought his Daughter here this Even- 
ing to go to X'ewyork. (W^ife of John, son of the Captain.) 

friday the 14. wind X" A\" : I have been over with aload of wood. Austin 
has been Husking Corn in the Barn, this afternoon he has been Cuting up' 
Stalks in the Xorth Lot. 

Saterday the 15 wind X E : with a Sufver Storm of Rain, but Little Done. 
Austin has Husk'd what Corn their was in the Barn, the Decon went from 
here this Morning. 

Sunday the 16 wind X E: & the Storm Continues, no meting to Day. the 
family all at home. 

Munday the 17: wind X W : & Cold. I have been over with a load of 
wood. Brought Back a Barel of flower & 5 gallons of Molases for Laben.. 
Austin has been Spliting & Cuting Cordwood & Sum firewood. 

Tusday the 18: wind X A\' : Clear & pleasent. I have been over with a 
load of wood. Austin has been Cuting up Corn & when I came back I got in 2 
loads of Corn. John & Zopher hallocks wives came to see us & Daniel Brown 
& his wife & Porters wife & Josephs wife all Met here to see Johns wife. (The 
John referred to was his third son. living in Xew York.) 

Wednesday the 19 wind X A\' : Clear & pleasent. we have got in the Last 
of our Corn : Austin & Huldah is gon over with John wife for her to go to 
Xewyork in Companey with Zacariah Hawkins & his wife. 



42 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

{2g) Thursday the 20. wind W S A\' : & warm, this forenoon I have been 
Husking Corn in the Barn, this afternoon I have got in the Last of our Stalks 
& what Beens we had & Cabbages. Austin & Huldah got home from the N 
Side about the middle of the Day & he has been husking Corn. 

friday the 21 wind X : & pleasent. I have been over with a load of Cord- 
wood. Brought home a load of firewood. Austin has been Killing our Beef & 
Porke with the help of Elisha Overton. 

Saterday the 22. wind S W & warm. 1 have been over with a load of wo;>d. 
Brought home a load of firewood. Austin has l^een Cuting up & Salting Down 
our Beef & pork. 

Sunday the 23. wind S E & Sum Signs of a storm. I have been at home, 
spent the Day in Reading, the Children have been to meting at Coram. 

Munday the 24 wind X E & Coal. 1 have been to Daniel Browns. Carryed 
him Sum pork that I Borrowed of him. I Sold the gray Mar to William 
Swazey for 45 Dollars : Austin ahusking Corn in the Barn. 

Tusday the 25. wind X E : & Chilley weather. I have been to Setalket. 
Took the sorrel Alar home- Austin is gon to help lUisha Kill his hoghs. 

Wednesday the 26 wind X E : & it come on to Rain this afternoon : I have 
been Husking Corn in the Barn : Joseph has been with Austin & they have 
Each of them brought iii) a load of our hav from S. 

Thursday the 27 wind X E: with Rain the most of the Day. we have been 
husking Corn in the Barn 

(30) friday the 28 . Day of Xoveml^er wind X E : & Sum weet. this fore- 
noon we have got 2 Loads of firewood : this afternoon I have been to hallocks. 
Austin husking Corn in the Barn. 

Saterday the 29. wind S \A' : Cloude}' Dul weather, we have been Husking 
Corn in the Barn & finnished Husking all our Corn & got it in the Crib. 

Sunday the 30 & Last Day of November wind S A\' : we had a Sufver 
Storm of Rain Last night but it has Cleared of ])leasent to Day. I have been 
at home, the Children have been to meting at Josephs. 

Munday the i. Day of December wind X^ W : Clear & pleasent: I have 
been to See John Overton & found him \'ery loe & I have been Doing Sum 
trifels about hoihe. Austin & Joseph has Each of them been to S & brought 
up a load of hay for me. (* * * -f) 

Tusday the 2. wind X" W : Clear & ])leasent. this forenoon I have turn'd 
my flax & mov'd Sum Stalks in the Barn to make Rum (room) to put hay. 
Austin & Joseph has been after hay. Joseph Took a load home : this afternoon 
Austin & L ha\e been to Coram on Sum Bisness. the Shewmakers Came here 
to work to Day. (In the margin:) Paid Elisha 5 dollars to Day. 

Wednesday the 3 wind X E : with a sufver Snow Storm, we got a load of 
firewood this INiorning before the Storm began. 

Thursday the 4 wind S W : it Came on to Rain Last Last night which 
Carryetl of the snow, we have hac' Snow Squals the Most of the Day. I have 
been to the vendue of the effects of Capt'n Overton Deces't Bought a cook 
pot 13s. 



HIS DIARY 43 

(31) friday the 5 wind S W & Signs of a storm, we have l)een Down in 
the pines &: got a load of pitch nots. 

Saterday the 6 wind \\' : & warm, this forenoon we got a load of firewood, 
this afternoon 1 have been to Hallocks. we taped a hoghset of Sider to Day. 

Sunday the 7. wind X W : Clear & Cold, the family at home. Austin & 
Huldah has gon to Hallocks in the wagon to Carry Deborah (Porter) to go to 
see Her Daughter, they took a peace of Cloath to Send to the Clothers. 

Munday the 8. wind S W : Cold & Signs of a storm. I have been over 
with a load. Sold it to Zacariah Hokins for which he is to pay me £0-10-0 
Austin is gon to Pine neck to thatch a cart hous for Capt'n Roe. (Austin 
Roe, 1)rother of Captain Daniel, often referred to.) 

Tusday the 9 wind W : Cloudey & cold. I have been to S for a load of hay. 
Austin is not got home yet. 

Wednesday the 10 wind X \\' : Cloudey & weet, but Little bisness Done. 

1 have mended Sum fence. Austin got home Las night. 

Thursday the 11 wind X' E with Snow all the Later part of the Day: we 
have been giting firewood. 

friday the 12 wind X E: & the storm Continues, no Bisness Done to Day 
Except taking care of the Creturs 

Saterday the 13 wind AV S W : & Cold I have been Imployed at Cuting 
wood at the Door & takeing care of the Creturs. Austin has been to Barnebees 
to See about our Lather (i. e.. leather), he went in the Slay. 

Sunday the 14 wind X' A\' & very cold, the family at home 

Munday the 15 wind X \\' Clear & Cold I have got a load for Laben. 
Austin has been to Coram in the Slay this forenoon, this afternoon he & 
Colman has been thrashing. Mager Foster cal'd here on his way home. 

(32) Tusday the 16 Day of December wind S W Clear & pleasent. I got 

2 Slead loads of Logs out of the Hills, then I went u]) to B : Billeys & got him 
a load of wood: Austin & Colman has been thrashing this forenoon, this after- 
noon Austin is gon in the slay with Richard Xorton after his Cloath at the 
hoppogs (Hauppauge, a hamlet on the Smithtown and Islip line). 

Wednesday the 17 wind X W : Clear & warm We have been giting fire- 
wood & clean'd u]) 7 Bushels of Rie ('■' * * *) 

Thursday the 18. wind X E: & Signs of a storm. I have been to Droun- 
madow & Settled with W'olsey. Cal'd at Taylors got \ lb of green & I 11) 
Bohe tee. Cal'd at Azel Roe's, paid him his Demands for flax that that I had 
of him Cal'd at Zaceriah Hokins. Bought of him 50 lbs of Buckwheet flower, 
all the above paid for. Austin has l)een Sleading Logs out of the Hills. 

(=^ "^ * *) 

friday the 19. wind X & warm. I have been to Pineneck to nottefie 
Stephen Roe to Alet the Executors of Justus Roe. Deces'd, to morrow at the 
House of Jesse Roe to Settle the Legeseys- Austin has been Spliting Sum 
Cordwood. 



44 CAPr. DANIEL ROE 

Saterday the 20 wind X W : Brother Austin & his Sun Stephen & his wife 
came here & they & Austin & I went to Setalket together to meet the 
Executors of Brotlier Justus: Estate Deces'd, to Settle tlie Estate. 

Sunday the 21 wind N W. Ihave been at home, the Children have been to 
meting- at Josephs this Evening. I have been to Carry Austin over to the N 
Side to go to New york. he went on Bord of the Arora 

(33) Munday the 22 wind X : we had a considerable Snow fel Last night 
& it Continued to Snow until Sumtime in the Morning. Brother Austin & his 
Sun Stephen cal'd here to Day. 

Tusday the 23 wdnd S E : with Rain all the Later part of the Day. this 
forenoon I have been Cuting of Logs at the Door, this afternoon I have been 
to Coram, got Austins Alars Shuse sat. 

Wednesday the 24 wind A\' : Clear & warm. I have been to mill at 
patchog. Carryed 6 Bushels of Rie i^ of wheet & i^ of Corn & 2 Bushels of 
Corn for Laben. 

Thursday the 25: wind X \\' : I have been taking away the old hovel 
(shed) that fel Last night. 

friday the 26: wind X W: with Rain the Most of the Day. but Little 
bisness Done, Except taking Care of the Creturs. 

Saterday the 27 wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been to S. for my 
Last Load of hay. I went wdth the Bay horse & Sorrel Mar. Huldah Rode 
Austins Mar to Elishas. Ruth came home with Her. 

Sunday the 28. wind S E : with Rain. I have been at home not very well. 
John F Hallock Came here & went to meting at Josephs. Austin got home 
from XFew york this Evening. 

Munday the 29 wind \V : & Cold. I have been to Hallocks for ]\Iy Cloath. 
Austin has been to the X'^ Side for his Chist & things. W^illiam Garard Put up 
with us this Evening. 

(34) Tusday the 30 Day of December wind X W & Cold we have been 
Cuting Cordwood & firewood, brought home a load of firewood. W^illiam 
Garard went from here this morning to go to New york. 

Wednesday the 31 & Last Day of December wind X : & Cold I have been 
to Elisha overtons on Sum Bisness. Austin has got a load of wood for us & a 
load for P> : Billey. 

1807. 

Thursday the i. Day of January in the year of our Lord 1807: wind X^ : 
Clear & very Cold I have been at home Cuting of wood at the Door & taking 
Care of the Creturs. this forenoon Austin & Billey has been thrashing, this 
afternoon Austin is gon for a ride. Billey has pounded me a mes of samp. 

friday the 2. wind X W. Clear & Cold. I have been Citing firewood for B : 
Billey. got him 5 Loads, he has been thrashing with Austin. 

Saterday the 3 wind X W & very cold, this forenoon we have Clean 'd up 
what Rie we had thrash'd their was 10 : Bushels, this afternoon I have been to 
Barnebees for our Lather but it was not Done, we took Austins Slay to 
Neweys to git Sum Iron work D( n to it 



H/S DIARY 45 

Sunday the 4 wind W S W & more Modaret. no meting- to Dav. the 
family all at liome. 

Tusday the 5. wind S A\' &: Signs of Rain, we have heen Cuting- Sum 
Cordwood lK: lirought home a load of firewood Benjamin Moor ])ut up here 
Last Saterday night & Staid imtil this Morning, he is a ])edlar. 

Tusday the 6. wind S A\' : pleasent. 1 have been to trustee ?\leting. .Vustin 
has put a handle in my ax tS: then went to Cuting C(Trdwood. 

(35) Wednesday the 7. wind X W Clear t^ pleasent. we have been 
Carting & g'iting' out Cordwood. I got out 4 Loads of Cordwood & i Load of 
Boat timber. ]^)rought home a load of firewood. 

Thursday the 8 wind AA' & Cold this forenoon I have got out 4 Loads of 
Cordwood «S: l>roug'ht home a load of firewood. Austin a Cuting Cordwood. 
this afternoon I have been to Daniel Browns. Joanna (Mrs. Worth) & Huldah 
went with me. Joanna 1 Left at Daniel Browns. 

friday the g wind A\' S \\ Clear & pleasent. 1 have been giting out & 
Spliting Cordwood. got 2 Loads of Cordwood. Brought home a load of fire- 
wood. Austin a Cuting. 

Saterday the 10. wind AA' : Cloudey & Signs of a Storm, this forenoon we 
have been Luployed as above. I got out 2 Loads of CordwMiod. Brought a 
load of firewood this afternoon. I have been to Barnebees. got all my Lather 
but one Side. I pade him 3 Dollars: Daniel Brown & wife Came here this 
Evening. Brought Joanna Home. 

Sunday the 11. wind W : Clear & pleasent. I ha\e been to Meting at 
Coram. 

Munday the 12. wind X \\ : Clear & Cold. I have been Spliting & giting 
otit Cordwood got out 2 Loads & Brought home a load of firewood. Austin 
is doing Sum trifels about home, got X'ewton to make a Basket. ('•' '■' '•' * *) 

Tusday the 13 wind X A\' : Clear & xery Cold. I have been to the vandue 
of the afects of Isaac Ketcham Deces'd. Austin has been thrashing with the 
help of Glover. 

Wednesday the 14 w ind S AA' : & Signs of a storm. I have l)een to Corem. 
got a shue Sat on Austins Mar. Austin & Glover has been thrashing. 

Thursday the 15. wind S AA' & more moderate, w^e have Clean'd up w^hat 
Grain we had thrash'd. their was 17 Bushels Austin & Huldah attending the 
weding of Samuel Doon & Ruth. 

{^G) friday the 16. Day of January wind X \A' : & pleasent. we have been 
Cuting & Spliting Cordwood. I Carryed out i Load of Cordwood. Brought 
home a load of wood. Mr. Elisha Hamond Had his wagon wheel Run over him 
yesterday & Expired in a short time. 

Saterday the 17. wind S E: & signs of a storm, we have attended the 
funeral of Mr. Elisha Hamond. Mr. Corwdn Preach'd from these words, to 
Live is Christ & to Die is gain. 

Sunday the 18. wind X with Snow all the fore part of the Day. the family 
all at home. 



46 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Munday the 19. wind X W : Clear & Cold. 1 am unwell to Dav with a 
heavey cold, no Bisness Done to Day Except taking care of the Cretnrs 
Austin & Huldah are gon to Hallocks, they Rode the Sorel Mar. 

Tusday the 20 wind AV S W : Clear & Cold I have attended a vendue at 
John Day tons. Austin got home from Hallocks & came to the van due Mrs. 
Hill came here to Make Sum Cloths for my Boys. (Refers, possibly, to Aus- 
tin, his son, and Coleman AVorth, his grandson, who lived with him much.) 

Wednesday the 21. wind X A\' Clear & Cold. I have Done but Little 
Bisness, not very well. I have been to Goldsmith Davises got Sum Lather 
that Barnebee Dres'd for me, then came Back by John Daytons. Brought 
home Sum things that I bought at the vendue. Austin has been thrashing 

Thursday the 22 wind X \A^ & it continues Cold. I have Done Imt Little 
Except taking care of the Creturs. Austin finnishecl thrashing to Day. Brother 
Austin cal'd to see us on his way to Setalket. Zopher cal'd to see us on his way 
home. 

(37) friday the 23. wind S AA' & Signs of a storm, we have been giting 
firewood, got 2 Loads. John Roe (3d son) came here this morning, took Austins 
Mar & went to Drownmadow & when he Came Back, He & Austin went to 
Elishas. 

Saterday the 24. wind S AA^ : & pleasent. we have Cleaned up the Last of 
our Rie their was 9 Bushels, then Austin went to the shore with a load of 
w^ood. Cal'd at Hawkins got 25 lbs. of liuckwheet flower. 

Sunday the 25. wind X AA' : Clear & Cold. I have been to Meting at 
Josephs to here Mr B)ull. Daniel Brown & his wife & John Roe, Hiddah came 
with them, they come here after meting & Huldah went Back with them. 

Munday the 26. wind X AA^ : & very Cold, no Bisness Done to Day Except 
takeing care of the Creturs & makeing fires. 

Tusday the 27. winil S E : & it has Snow'd Sum to Day but the weather has 
modarated & Signs of Rain. 1 have been Lnployed as above. Austin Crackled 
our Crop of flax to Day. 

Wednesday the 28 wind S W : with Rain, the storm began Last night & 
Continued all Day. no Bisness Done to Day. 

Thursday the 29. wind X \\ : Clear & pleasent. I have been to Patchog 
after a Shewmaker but Did not see him : Austin has been Cuting Cordwood 
Brought home a load of firewood. 

friday the 30. wind X W : & Clear, we have been Cuting Cordwood in our 
N Land. Brought home a load of firewood. 

(38) Saterday the 31 & Last Day of January wind S E with a Sufver 
Storm of Rain. 1 ha\e Ijeen to Elisha ( )\ertons in assist in taking an Inventory 
of his fathers Personal Estate. Austin has got a load of wood for Laben. L. 

Sunday the i. Day of february the wind Shifted the Later part of the 
night into the X W & it came on to Snow & Continued until Sumtime 
in the Morning. Austin & James X^orton have been to S in the Slay. 

Munday the 2. wind S AV & warm for the seson. I have been to Mastick 
with Joseph B : Roe to be Bondsman for him in takeing out Letters of Admin- 



HIS DIARY 



47 



nistratitm of the Estate of Elisha Hammond Deces'd. Austin has been to Hal- 
locks with his Slay, the Snow went of, he Left his Slay & he came home with 
Zopher & Huldah came home with them. 

Tusday the 3 wind \\\ this Alornint^- we went to our north Land with the 
wagon. I Brought home a load of firewood. Austin Staid & Cut Cordwood. 
this afternoon T have lieen to d>ustee meting. 

Wednesday the 4. wind X W : (Jvr we had a small flite of Snow toward 
night. 1 have lieen oxer with a li)ad of Hoot timber. Austin a Cuting Cord- 
wood. 

Thursday the 5 wind S E : & Signs of a Storm. I have been at home, not 
very well. My Horses are all gon. Austin Rode one, James Norton & Colman 




Austin Roe, Rose, Wayne Co., X. Y.. Youngest Son of Capt. Daniel Roe. 



Worth the <nher two. John F. Hallock & Richard LIudson met here this 
Evening to Settle Sum Bisnesses. 

friday the 6 wind S E : with Snow, the Storm began Last night & Con- 
tinued all the fore part of the Day. no bisness Done Austin & Davis has been 
a Slay Riding. 

(39) Saterday the 7. wind X W : Clear & Cold. I have been with 
Timothy Mills in his Slay to the Midel of the Island. Austin has been Sleading 
wood out of the hills, this Evening he is gon to Hallocks to fetch his Slay 
home. 

Sunday the 8 wind N W & very Cold. I have been at home. Austin has 
been to Patchog in the Slay. Huldah went with him. they Brought Caret & 
his Sim with them. 



48 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Munday the 9. wiinl W ; Clear & more moderat. this forenoon I have got a 
load of Logs out of the Hills this afternoon. Huldah & I have been to the 
funeral of Timothy Tooker. Mr. Garret Has made me a set of Brich bands 
for harness. Austin has assisted him. (=•= * * *) 

Tusday the 10. wind N AA^ : & pleasent. I have attended a vandue of the 
parsonal Estate of Elisha Hammond Deces'd. Austin has got a load of 
firewood & then went to the vandue. Garret amaking him a pare of Boots 

Wednesday the 11 wind S E & Signs of a storm. 1 have been to Coram to 
git the things that I Bought at the vandue. Austin & Richard Norton are gon 
to S a Ealing. Garret went home. 

Thursday the 12. wind S AA' & warm. I have been to Setalket to settk' 
with the Executors of My Brothers Estate & have Settled & taken the 
obligations that fel to me Austin has been at home Doing Sum trifels. this 
Evening he & Huldah is gon to Elishas. 

friday the 13 wind S E : & it came on to Rain this Evening, we have been 
giting firewood, got 2 Loads. 

Saterday the 14: wind S E: with a Stedey Rain all Dav. no bisness Done 
to Day. 

Sunday the 15. wind N AA' & Blows Heavy. I have been at home, the 
Children have been to meting. Huldah is at Elishas. Austin &: Col man has 
Road of. Colman has my Soral ?^lar. 

(40) Munday the 16 of February wind X \A' eS: BloAv'd very Heavey 
Last night &: very Cold, no Bisness Done Austin has been to Mr. Neweys. got 
a set of Linchpins made & a staple put in the hors yoke. Zopher cal'd here on 
his way to Coram to git His wagon Tyar'd. 

Tusday the 17 wind N E & Signs of a storm. I have got a Load of fire- 
wood. Austin a Cuting Cordwood. :\Ir. Green & Daniel Tooker cal'd to see us 
but I was not at home. 

Wednesday the 18. wind S E: & we had considerable Snow fel Last night 
but it Came on to Rain to Day which Carryed the Snow all of: no bisness 
Done. 

Thursday the 19. wind AA' Clear & more Cold. I have been Imploved at 
takeing care of the Creturs & puting up fence that the wind Blew Down 
yesterday. John Hallock Cal'd here on his way to Coram after his wagon. I 
went with him. Austin is gon to Mill to SmithtoAvn. 

friday the 20. wind X AA' : Clear & Cold, but Little Bisness Done to Day 
Excejn taking Care of the Creturs. 

Saterday the 21. wind \A' : Clear & pleasent. this forenoon we got a load 
of firewood, this afternoon Austin went to Hallocks. T have been Cuting of 
wood at the Door & takeing Care of the Creturs. 

Sunday the 22. wind AA^ S AA' & pleasent. I have been at home, the 
Chddren have been to meting at Josephs. Austin is gon to Meting to the 
Branch. (Aid. p. 30 Sunday the 18.) 

Munday the 23 wind X AA' Clear &: pleasent. I have been Dresing flax. 
Austin has got a load of firewood. 



H/S DIARY 49 

Tusday the 24 wind X Ii witli Rain : it come on to Snow this Evening & 
fel more Snow than we have had at any one time this winter. I have attended 
an arbetration between Joshua Smith & Isaac Garret at Coram. 

(41 ) Wednesday the 25. wind N W : Clear & pleasent and fine Sleading. 
I ha\'e l)een Imployed at takeing care of the Creturs & Cuting of wood. 
Austin ariding in the Slay, he Carry ed Ruth to Drown madow. this Evening 
he, gone to carry Her home. 

Thursday the 26. wind W Clear & pleasent. I have finnished Dresing our 
flax. Austin is out a Slay Riding. Polly Porter (granddaughter) quits here to 
Dav (S: is gon to her fathers. (* * * *) 

friday the 27. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have Done but Little but 
take care of the Creturs. Austin got home from his Ride & T took the Slay & 
went to Coram. 

Saterday the 28. & Last Day of february wind E : & it come on to Rain 
this Evening, we have been giting firewood got 6 Loads then Austin & Huldah 
went to Elishas in the Slay & Come home in the Rain. 

Sunday the i. Day of March it has Cleared of with the wind at N W. 
we had a sufver Storm of wind & Rain Last night which Carrved of the snow, 
the famil}- at home. Mrs. Helms cal'd here on her way to Smithtown. 

Munday the 2. wind X W : & Cold. I have been Doing Sum Trifels about 
home, this afternoon I have been to Mr. Xew^eys. got my Horses Shewes Sat. 
then I went to see EsqV Hull (Hulse) as I was informed that he had his Lege 
Brooke yesterday by the fall of his hors : Austin has been Cuting Cordwood. 
Colman has been with him. 

Tusday the 3. wind S W & pleasent. I have been to Trustee meting. 
Cal'd at Mr. Neweys got Austins Mar shod. I had a conference with Justus 
(Bro. Austin's son) Roe Concerning his Charge against my Brother in his 
Last Sickness. Austin has been to work with Colman. 

Wednesday the 4. wind S W : we had a considerable Snow Last night & 
it Continued until Sumtime this morning. I have attended a vandue of the 
affects of John Overton Deces'd. Austin is gon of I know not whare. 

(42) Thursday the 5 Day of March wind X W : with Snow^ Squals. 1 
have been Imployed at takeing care of the Creturs & Cuting of wood at the 
Doore. I have been to fetch up the things that I Bought at the vandue yester- 
day. Austin &: Colman got home Sumtime this forenoon & went to Cut wood 
but they was Soon put of by the Snow. 

friday the 6. wind X^ W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at work about 
home, this afternoon I have been to Coram & got me a grapplen made. 
Austin has been Cuting wood on the Barrons (i. e., barrens). 

Saterday the 7 wind W S W : & Sum Signs of a storm. I have been over 
with a load of wood. Austin Imployed as above. 

Sunday the 8. wind X E : with a stedy modarat Rain all Day. the family 
at home. 

Munday the 9. wind X E : Cloudey & it come on to Rain this Evening. I 
have been to Coram & when I Came Back I went to Justus Overtons ; got a 
4 



50 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Peace of fresh Beef, then I got a load of firewood. Austin acuting wood on the 
Barrens. 

Tusday the lo wind X : I have been giting firewood. Austin acnting Cord- 
wood witli Cohnan. 

Wednesday the ii. wind X W: Clear & pleasent. I have been Spliting 
Cordwood & Brought home a load of firewood. Colman has been Cuting Cord- 
wood with Austin. Alearet Havens came to work here this Morning. Thomas 
Helms Jun'r & Sisters (children of his half-brother) cal'd here on their way 
home from visiting their sick father & say that he is Sum Better. Lab?n 
Worths Wife was put to Bead with a sun to Day. (" * * * *) 

(43) Thursday the 12. wind X'^ AA' & pleasent. I have attended a vendue 
of Elisha Overton. Maret Havens went with Me. Austin has been Cuting 
Cordwoiid this forenoon. This afternoon he Came to the Vendue. 

friday the 13 wind X E : with a sufver Snow storm. I have been to Hal- 
locks to Carry Aly wife to see Hannah as She is very unwell. Austin at w^ork 
about home. Porter went with me. we came Back in a Snow storm. 

Saterday the 14. wind X W : Clear & pleasent, their fell the graitest 
Bodey of Snow Last night that we have had this winter. Austin & Huldah are 
gon to See their Sister as She was much Complaining yesterday. 

Sunday the 15. wind X W & pleasent wether. T ha^'e l)een at home. 
Austin & Huldah has been in the Slay to Elishas & Brought Ruth home with 
them & they are gon to Carry her to see her Sister Hannah. 

Munday the 16 wind W Clear & pleasent. Mr. X^orton & I have been to 
mill at the midel of the Island. I Carryed 3 Bushels of Rie & he 2 Bushels, we 
went with his horses & my Slead Austin & a number others are gon to S: a 
Ealing. 

Tusday the 17. wind S W. & ye Snow wasts fast, we hav^ Done but Little 
to Day but Dres the Eals that Austin catch'd yesterday. 

Wednesday the 18 wind W & Blows fresh. I have been to Zophers to See 
how his wife was. I found her more Comfortable. Austin has lieen with the 
Slead to try to git out Sum Cordwood. 

Thursday the 19 wind X : Cloudey & Signs of a storm. I have been to 
Elishas to See how they Do as Ruth is with her Sister Hannah. Austin has 
been over with a load of Cordwood. 

(44) friday the 20. Day of March wind X W : & it has Cleared of 
pleasent. we have been Removeing Hay & Stalks out of a stack into the Barn, 
we had a considerable Snow fel Last night. 

Saterday the 21 wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been giting firewood, 
got 2 Loads. Austin a Cuting Cordwood. Mr. Wagons Sent our Cow home to 
Day. 

Sunday the 22 wind AA' : Clear & pleasent. I have been to Meting at 
Josephs. Daniel Brown & two of his Daughters ware their & come home with 
Me & took Dinner. I staid at home this afternoon & Huldah went. 

Munday the 23. wind X AA' & pleasent. I have been Spliting Cordwood & 
Brought home a load of firewood. Austin acutingf Cordwood. Colman at work 



HIS DIAR Y 51 

with him. Zopher Brought my wife & Ruth home, his wife was put to Bead 
with a Dautjhter (Ahiiira) this Morning- : I Carryed Ruth liome this Evening. 

Tusday the 24 wind S E: 1 have heen Imployed as above, it came on to 
Rain this iMcning. .Vustin has Ijeen Cuting Cordwood with Cohnan. 

Wednesday the 25. wind X \W' &: Blows Heavey. we had a sufver storm 
Rain c\: wind Last night. I have ])een Cuting Sum Cordwood & Brought home 
a load of firewood. Austin acuting this forenoon, this afternoon he is gon to 
Smithtown. 

Thursday the 26 wind X AV Clear & pleasent. I have been Cuting Sum 
HolloAv Tulxs (possibly button woods for leaching ashes) & Brought a load of 
firewood home. Austin acuting Cordwootl. 

(45) friday the 27. wind W S W : with Snow Squals Richard & Davis 
Norton has been Cuting Cordwood with Austin. I went with the wagon & 
Cut Sum & Brought home a load of firewood. Huldah got home from Zophers 
to Day. 

Saterday the 28 w ind X W : & pleasent. I have been over with a load 
Austin acuting- Cordwood with Richard Norton. Joel Davis put up here for 
the night. Ruth Came to See us & Staid the night. (In the margin:) I got a 
gallon of rum to Day. 

Sunday the 29 wind X E: with Snow, the Storm began Last night & Con- 
tinued all Day So that ]oA nor Ruth neither of them went home, no ?yleting 
to Day. the family all at home. 

Munday the 30. wind N : &: has Clear'd of pleasent. 1 have been Moveing 
Sum Hay & Stalks out of a stack into the Barn. Austin has been giting out 
Sum Cordwood & brought home a load of firewood. Joseph had my wagon to 
Move Daniel Yarington (* * " *) 

Tusday the 31: & Last Day of March wind X E with sufver Storm of 
wind Snow^ Rain & Hail, the Storm began Last night & continued all Day & 
Like to continue. 

Wednesday the i Day of April wind W S W & blows very Heavey & 

Cold. 1 ha\e Ijeen at home Doing Sum Trifels. Austin has been at work 
N'ward & brought home a load of firewood. 

Thursday the 2. wind S E: I Carryed P.: Billey a load of wood from 
home this morning. Austin at work with Richard this forenoon, this afternoon 
thare came on a sufver storm of hail & Rain. Laben had Austins Mar to go to 
the Branch & George Munro had mine to go. L. 

(46) friday the 3 Day of April wind W S \\ : & Blows Heavey. I have 
been pruning the orcherd <&: taking Care of the Creturs. Austin acuting Cord- 
wood. John E. Hallock cal'd here on his way home from cort. 

Saterday the 4. wind X W &: Blows very Heavey. Joseph & I have been 
giting out Cordwood to the Contre road, we got 20 Loads & brotight him 
home. Each of us 2 Loads of Rails. Austin acuting Cordwood & we ware at 
work for Laben. (* * '^ * "=) L. 



52 CAPr. DANIEL ROE 

Sunday the 5. wind N \V : & more Moderate. I have been at home the 
Chiklren have been to dieting at Josephs. 

Munday the 6. wind X AV : Clear & pleasent. I have been Pruning" the 
orcherd this forenoon, this afternoon I have l)een menchng- fence. Austin has 
been Cuting Cordwood on Labens Land. L. 

Tusday the 7 wind X W : & w^arhi. I have attended Town meting. Aus- 
tin has been Cuting Cordwood with Richard Xorton this forenoon, this 
afternoon he went to townmeting. 

Wednesday the 8 wind X : & Warm, I have been over with a load of Cord- 
wood. Brought home a load of firewood. Austin has been Spliting Cordwood. 

Thursday the 9. wind E : & it Came on to Rain this afternoon : I have 
been to Mill at Patchog Carryed 5^ Bushels of Rie & \\ Bushels of Corn. 
Bought 300 Clams of Jery Swizey : Austin acuting Cordwood. 

friday the 10. wind N & pleasent. we have been mending around the Long 
Lot or Loping on the fence. 

(47) Saterday the 11. wind X W & warm, we have been Loping & 
Mending fence. Austin is gon to Hallocks & Huldah is gon to Elishas. we had 
a lam Come to Day the first we have had this Year. (* * * * *) 

Sunday the 12. wind S E: & Signs of a storm. I have been at home. 
Austin went to Hallocks Last night & is not got home. Huldah wxnt to 
Elishas yesterdav & Ruth came home with her this afternoon & Roed the Mar 
Back. 

Munday the 13 wind X E: with a sufver Storm of Rain. I have been 
Imployed at takeing Care of the Creturs. Austin is not got home from his 
Viset. 

Tusday the 14 wind X \V : Clear & pleasent. I have been at w^ork at the 
old Hedges. Austin acuting Cordwood on Labens Land. L. 

Wednesday the 15. wind S A\' & warm, this forenoon I have been Loping 
Hedge, this afternoon Huldah & I have been to Hallocks found him very 
unwell. Austin Imployed as above. L 

Thursday the 16. wind X W Clear & pleasent. I have been ^Mending fence 
around our A\' Land. Austin a Cuting Cordwood on Labens Land. L 

friday the 17. wind S A\" & warm. I ha\'e been Mending fence this fore- 
noon, this afternoon 1 have been to Elishas to Take Austins Mare home from 
their. Austin Cuting Cordwood. 

Saterday the 18. wind S E : & Showery. Porter & I have been giting out 
the wood that Austin Cut on Labens Land, we got out 15 Loads: Austin & 
Richard are gon to S. aclaming. 

Sunday the 19. wind S AV & warm. I have been at home, the Children 
have been to [Nleting at Josephs. Austin «S: Richard got home Late Last night 
brought up 2000 clams. 

Munday the 20 Day of April wind S AA' Cloudey & it Came on to Rain 
this afternoon, we have finnished giting out the wood that Austin Cut on 
Labens Land. L 

Tusday the 21 wind X AA' & Coal, we have been giting out Cordwood out 
of our north Land got out 14 Lc^ads. Ruth Came to See us this Evening. 



HIS DIARY 



53 



Wednesday the 22. wind S \\ : & warm Days & Coal ni_2^hts. we have been 
Imployed as al)ove. got out 12 Loads. Ruth has been to Hallocks, Roed 
Austins Mar. Huklah has been & Carryed her home this Evening. 

Thursday the 23. wind S E & Signs of a storm. I have Carryed My Hides 
to Daniel HamuK^ids To tan. from thence I went to Isaac Hulls vandue. 
Austin at work about home. 

friday the 24. wind S E & it Come on to Rain this afternoon, this fore- 
noon 1 have been Looking for our Cos (cows) but Did not find them, they 
Came home this Evening. Austin has been giting out Cordwood, got out 5 
Loads. I have Sat out our Cabbag stumps this afternoon. I have been To the 
funarel of ]\Irs. Yarington. 

Saterday the 25. wind S E: with Rain the ]\Iost of the Day. I have Been 




Joseph Brewster Roe, Jr., 1'atchogue, L. I., Grandson of Capt. Daniel Roe. 

to Coram took my Plowe to Newey to git it fixt. Austin & Laben has been 
Grafting. 

Sunday the 26. wind \^ariable & warm My wife & I have been to See 
Deborah (Mrs. Porter) and Carryed her out in the wagon, the Children have 
been to meting at Labens. 

Munday the 27. wind N W: & warm. I have got my plow fix'd & Austin 
has been i)lowing a garden for Porter & His wife was put to Bead with twins 
to Day and She is Very week & Lowe. 

(4cy) Tusday the 28. wind S E : & Signs of Rain, we have been giting 
mmiurc on our gardens & have plowed them. 

Wednesday the 29. wind S : Cloudey & Signs of Rain, this forenoon I 
have attended the Election, this afternoon I have been Clearing before the 
plow in the W : Lot whare Austin is plowing. 



54 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Thursday the 30 & Last Day of April wind S: we had a thunder Sliower 
about the middle of the Day & their came on another this Evening, this 
forenoon I have been giting out Stumi)s whare Austin is aplowing. this after- 
noon I have been Sheling Seed Corn. 

friday the i Day of May winds S E : Cloudey Dul weather, this forenoon 
I sat out to the Bural of Leonard Stills wife but I was too Late. I went to 
Goldsmith Davis on Sum Bisness. Austin tinnished plowing the W Lot to 
Day. he was 3 Days plowing it. (* '■' * '•' ) 

Saterday the 2. wind X W & it gros more Coal, we have been [danting 
our Sweet potatos & Sum Common potatos & we have planted our garden 
with Beens. Austin & Laben is gon to Drownmadow this afternoon 

Sunday the 3. wind X W : Clear & Coal for the Seson. I have been at 
home. S])ent the Day in Reading, the Children have been to meting at 
Josephs. Zopher & his wife & Polly Foot Come to dieting & after Meting 
Come here. 

Munday the 4. wind S W & Sum weet. I have been to Alill at Patchog 
Carryed 7 Bushels of Rie & 2 Bushels of wheet. Austin Began to Hole the 
ground in the W Lot for planting 

Tusday the 5 wind X W Clear & pleasent. I have attended Trustee 
meting Austin has been plowing in the orched. 

(50) Wednesday the 6 Day of May wind S E: I Began to plant Corn in 
the W Lot. Austin finnished plowing in the Barn Lot : it Come on to Rain 
this afternoon, no l)isness Done. 

Thursday the 7. wind X W : Squaley & Cold for the Seson. I have l:)een 
planting in the W Lot, Austin aplowing in the X Lot. 

friday the 8 wind ^\' X A\' & not so Cold. I have been Planting in the W 
Lot & finnished this forenoon, this afternoon I have been planting in the 
Barn Lot. Austin aplowing in the X Lot & finnished plowing for planting for 
this year, we had a lam Come to Day. (* '^' "^^ *) 

Saterday the 9. wind X E: Cold & Sum Rain this afternoon. To Day we 
finnished planting Corn. (" " * '■') 

Sunday the 10. wind S E : Coal sower weather. I have been at home, the 
Children have been to Meting at Labens 

Munday the 11. wind W : & it continues Coal, we have been Planting our 
potatos this forenoon, this afternoon Austin has been plowing for Lal)en. L 

Tusday the 12: wind S W: & pleasent I have Drawed of a hogset of 
Sider. Let Joseph B : Roe have i l\)arel & Porter one : Austin & Ricliard 
Norton have been To the Beech aclaming, they got 2300 : Huldah has Ix^en to 
Elishas. Ruth Come home with her. 

Wednesday the 13 wind S ^^' : & warm. I have 1)een Diging out a hogh 
trough. Austin aplowing for l*orter. this Evening he is gon to Carry Ruth 
home. {^^ * '•' ") 

Thursday the 14 wind S E: & Signs of Rain, we have planted Sum 
punkins. this afternoon Austin has been over with a load of wood : Daniel 



HIS DIARY 55 

Brown & wife & John Hallock calM here on their way to Coram. I went with 

them. 

(One leaf torn from the manuscript, May 15 — June i.) 

(51 ) Tusday the 2 Day of June wind W & it has cleared of pleasent. I 

have attended Trustee meting-. Austin has been Cuting Sum poles to fence of 

the Locus trees. 

Wednesday the 3 wind S A\' : Clear & pleasent. we have been giting pols 
& crotches & makeing crotch & pole fence along by our Locus orched. 

Thursday the 4 wind S A\' & warm, this forenoon we have tinnished our 
fence by the Locus orched. this afternoon we have harrowed out our Corn in 
the W Lot one way. the Shoomaker finnished & went from here to Day. 
Deborah Came to See us to Day with her Twins. ( )ur white Hefifer Calv'd To 
Day. (Figure with four legs in border.) Turned our Horses to Pasture. 

friday the 5. wind S \A' : & warm we have been at work at the Corn. I 
have been Harrowing & Austin & Porter has been hoeing. 

Saterday the 6. wind S \\" : with Sum Showers. We have been at work at 
the Corn & tinnished the W Lot Corn. Porter help'd for which Austin Let 
him have a pare of pantelons. this afternoon we have been to the Raising of 
Xathanel Smiths Barn But too Late. 

Sunday the 7 wind S W : Clear & warm, the family at home. 

Munday the 8 wind W Clear & warm: I have been to Mill for Porter. 
Went to Phillips Mill Carryed for him 3 Bushels of Rie & 2 of Corn »S: i 
Bushel of wheet for Wm. Swazey. Austin at work at the Corn. Bought a 
well Rope for My Self & one for Porter. Cost 3 Dollars & 4 cent (* * * "' *) 

Tusday the g. wind S A\' : & warm, we have been at work at the Corn in 
the N Lot this afternoon. Austin has been to training at Coram. Zopher & 
family came here & Edmond AAdiellor & the}- went to training & staid here all 
night 

(52) Wednesday the 10 Day of June wind W S W & warm. 1 have been 
at work at the Corn & tinnished in the N Lot. Austin has been to the general 
Training. 

Thursday the 11. wind W : this forenoon we have been at w^ork at the 
Corn in the Barn Lot. this afternoon we Sat out & went to the Beech & Staid 
all night 

friday the 12. wind X E : & it come on to Rain. Ave got Sum Clams & 
Horsefish & come home in the Rain. 

Saterday the 13. wind X E: with a cold Rain, the storm began this 
afternoon. I have not been very well. Austin has been fixing our wheelbarrow. 

Sunday the 14. wind \\' X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at Home. 
William (larard cal'd here, the Children ha\-e been to Meting at Josephs. 

Munday the 15. wind W : & warm, this forenoon I finnished Harrowing 
out our Corn. Austin ahoeing. this afternoon I have been to ^lill at Patchog. 
Carryed the Last of our grain, their was 5 Bushels of wheet & 2 of Rie. 

Tusday the 16. wind S \\' : this forenoon I ha\-e been Hoeing Corn & 
finnish'd then I planted Sum potatos whare the punkins Did not cum up. we 



56 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

had a heavy thunder Squal this afternoon & Cleared of withe wind at N W 
then I set out Sum Cabbig plants. Austin has been to Islip & took our Mar 
home thet w-e had at Pasture their. 

(53) Wednesday the 17. wind A\' X A\' : Clear & pleasent. I have been 
Hoeing Potatos & garden. Austin has been over with a load of Cordwood. I 
planted Sum Cucumber seed to Day 

Thursday the 18. wind \A' : & it come on to Rain about the Middle of the 
Da}'. I ha\e been Mending fence this forenoon. Austin has been over with a 
load of Cordwood. we have been to (help) Briant (Xorton) Rais an addison 
to his Barn, this Evening I sold a mar to John Hulls for 30 Dollars. 

friday the ig. wind E: & warm. I have been Clearing out the Barn & 
Doing Sinn trifels about home. Austin & James Norton are gon for a Beech 
frollick. 

Saterday the 20. wind S E: & warm. I have been to work in the garden. 
Austin has been oAcr with a load. 

Sunday the 21. wind S & warm, no Meting to Day. the family at Home. 

Munday the 22 Avind S W «& very warm. I have been at work at the Hay 
that Austin Cut in the forenoon, this afternoon he has been over with a load 
of wood, our old Read Cow Calv'd this Morning. (Figure in border.) 

Tusday the 23. wind X : & pleasent. this forenoon I have got Both our 
Horses Shod, this afternoon I have been blending our Road. Austin is gon to 
Ditch for Elisha. Escfr Jayn calVl to See us. 

Wednesday the 24. wind X E: with a stedey Rain all Day. I got in what 
Inglish Ha}- we had Cut this morning before the Storm Came on. I have set 
out Sum Cabbig plants. 

Thursday the 25. it has Cleared of with the wind X \\^ this afternoon I 
have Sat out Sum more Cabbage plants. Austin came home & has been to 
Hallocks. 

(54) friday the 26. Day of June wind W Clear & pleasent. I have been 
to Hallocks tS: Dan'l Browns. Joanna (Mrs. \A'orth) went with me. I got 5 
gallons of Molases. Austin at Elishas : we Lost a yerling Bull to Day. our 
Read Heffer Calv'd to Day. ( Indicated by figure in border.) 

Saterday the 27. wind S E: & Simi Signs of a storm, we Lost a yerling 
bool Last night, this forenoon I have been to Carrey the Hid to the tanner, 
this afternoon I have been hoeing in the garden. 

Sunday the 28. wind S E: Cloudey Misty weather, we have attended the 
funeral of \\'illiam Garards wife. Mr. Corwin Preach'd the funeral from the 
23 : of Numbers & the Latter part of the 10 Vers. 

Munday the 29. wind S W : & warm. 1 have been Hoeing garden. Austin 
has been over with a Load of wood. William Garard ])ut up here tonight. 

Tusday the 30 & Last Day of June wind S \V. this forenoon I have been 
Hoing potatos & Austin has been over with a load of wood, this afternoon he 
has been Harrowing Corn in the liarn Lot & I hax'e been hoeing, we had a 
thunder shower in the afternoon but soon Cleared of. 



HIS DIARY 57 

Wednesday the i. Day of July wind S W & pleasent. 1 have been hoeing- 
Corn. Austin has been over with a load of wood. Elisha Overton has been 
here this Evening on Sum l^isness with Austin. (* '•' '•' ") 

Thursday the 2. wind S W & warm, we have all been Tmployed as above. 

friday the 3 wind S W : & Sum Signs of Rain. I have been at work at the 
Corn I finnished in the IJarn Lot this forenoon. Austin has been over with a 
load of wood, this afternoon we have been at work at the Corn in the N Lot 

(Three leaves out of the manuscriiit, July 4 — Aug. 20, 1807.) 

(55) friday the 21 [August] wind S E with Rain the ]\Iost of the Day. 
I have Done but Little Bisness to Day. Austin has plowed Sum. we turned 
the Calves out of our pasture into Mr. A^ortons pasture as his calve has been in 
our pasture. {^^ * '^ '^) 

Saterday the 22. wind X A\" : with Rain the Most of the Day. I Sprouted 
the lUishes in the House Lot before the Rain came on. Austin has plowed 
Sum 

Sunday the 23. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been at home. Spent 
the Day in Reading, the Children ha^•e been to Meting at Josephs. Austin Sat 
out for Pineneck this Evening. 

Munday the 24. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. I have been over with a 
load, .\ustin at pineneck. 

Tusday the 25. wind S A\' & pleasent weather, this morning I went to 
Pinvneck to helj) Austin git up hay we Did not finnish & I Staid all nig'ht. 

Wednesday the 26: wind S: we finnished giting up the hay & Austin got 
up what sedg ther was on on the Stran & Came home. Brought up a small turn 
of hay. 

Thursday the 27 wind W : Clear & pleasent. this forenoon I have bc-en 
Cuting Bushes in our X Land, this afternoon I have been picking up & 
Burning a Hedg Roe that we Sat afire to Day. Austin aplowing. we help'd 
Jabez Xorton Burn his new ground 

(56) friday the 28 Day of August wind S W: & we had Sum Rain. I 
have been Cuting Bushes until the Rain put me of. this afternoon I have been 
to Xeweys & got Both of our Horses Shod. Austin has plowed Sum & 
thrashed. 

Saterday the 29 Avind W with Several Showers. I have been Cuting 
Bushes until I was Put of by the Rain. Austin is gon to mill John F. Hallock 
cal'd to See us. 

Sunday the 30: wind S A\' (&: warm. I have been at home. Spent the Day in 
Reading, the Children have been to meting. 

Munday the 31 & Last Day of August wind \\" S \\" with Rain this morn- 
ing: I have finnished Cuting the I'.ushes in our W Land & pick'd up the 
Bushes & Burnt them in the X Lot. Austin has been over with a load & 
finnished plowing in the Barn Lot. 

Tusday the i. Day of September wind X W Clear & Coal. I have 
attended Trustee meting. Austin went with me on Sum bisness. (" * * *) 

Wednesday the 2. wind AV S AA" : & it come on to Rain a little before 



58 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

night, this forenoon I plowed the ground the \^' Side of the Corn in the N Lot. 
Austin is Lame with a gathering on his foot, he has been thrashing Sum. I 
help'd him this afternoon. 

Thursday the 3 wind N W Clear & pleasent. this forenoon I finnished 
plowing in the W Lot. this afternoon I have been Cleaning up Rie. Cleaned 
up 3 Bushels & i. Austin Continues Lame with his foot. 

(57) friday the 4. wind S E: we have been to pineneck &: Cut the Sedg 
Hay on Austins Madow & came home. 

Saterday the 5 wind W Clear & pleasent. we had a thunder Shower Last 
night, to Day we have Soed the Rie in the Barn Lot & Harrowed it in with 
the Help of Josephs Teem. (* * * *) 

Sunday the 6 wind X W & Clear. I have been at home the Children have 
been to meting at Josephs. Zacariah Hawkins & wife cal'd here. 

Munday the 7 wind S. & Signs of a storm. I have been to Pineneck to 
Carr}' Austin &: Porter To go to the Beech. Richard Norton went with us. 

Tusday the 8 with Rain all the Latter part of the Day. I have been over 
with a load. 

Wednesday the 9: wind S E: I v^^ent to Pineneck to Day & went to 
Rakeing Hay. Austin got of the Beech Just before night & we Staid all night. 
I was very unwell. 

Thursday the 10. wind S W : Clear & pleasent. we have been giting up the 
hay their, we Cock'd it all up & came home in the Evening. 

friday the 11 wind A\ : we have Soed the Rie in the N Lot among the 
Corn & around the Corn. 

Saterday the 12 wind S W: Clear & pleasent. I have been Hoeing Rie in 
the Corn in the X Lot. Austin aCuting Stalks in the W Lot. Ruth came to See 
us this Evening. 

Sunday the 13. wind \N «&: Signs of a storm. I have been at home. John 
(Roe) came here from Xewyork. Zopher &: wife came here <S: they all went to 
meting at Josephs. 

(58) Munday the 14 Day of September wind X' W & Cold, we have 
been Toping Corn in the W Lot John Sat out for W. hamton (\\"esthampton) 
this Morning. 

Tusday the 15 wind X \\ : & \'erv Coal for the Seson. we ha\'e l)een 
Toping & Cuting up Corn in the \\' Lot &: finnished. (" * * *) 

Wednesday the 16. wind X W : &: Clear, this forenoon T have been Toping 
Corn in the X Lot. this afternoon I ha\e l)een o\er with a load: Elaxander 
Ruland began his Munths worke here to Day. he & Austin has been thrashing 
this forenoon, this afternoon they have l)een at work at the Stalks. John 
Returned this Evening with his wife. (* ■■' * *) 

Thursday the 17 wind S E & we had Sum Rain, this afternoon we have 
been to pineneck & got all our Ha_\- in Stack that we had their & come home. 

friday the 18. wind S W & warm, this forenoon we got home Sum Corn 
that Austin Cut up in the W Lot whare we Mean to Soe Rie. John & his wife 
went from here to bullocks & Huldah (^ I went their and Shee Staid 



HIS DIARY 



59 



Saterday the 19. wind S W : & Blows very Heavey & it Came on to Rain 
this Evening, this forenoon we have Soed the S end of the W Lot whare we 
Cut n\) the Corn. Ruland has heen thrashing wheet this afternoon, he & 
Austin has heen Soing Rie for Porter among his Corn. Smith Dayton cal'd to 
See us to Day. 

Sunday the 20. wind S ^^ : & warm I have heen at home. Austin has 1)een 
to Halliicks c\: fetch'd Huldah home from their. 

(59) Munday the 21. wind W : Clear & ]deasent. 1 have been to Carry 
x^ustin & Ruland to go to the Beeeh. I went to Pineneek & Carted up Seeweed 
& Brought up a load. 




John Roe. Jr.. Hoxesdale, I'enn.. (Irandsox of Capt. Daniel Roe. 

Tusday the 22. wind X E: cS: warm. I have been to Mill Carryed 3i 
Bushels oi wheet (.\: 3 I'.ushels of Rie & I'.rought our Beech folks hiMiie. 

Wednesday the 23. wind W ; Clear & pleasent. 1 have been Cuting up 
Corn in the Barn Lot & Diging up potatos. Austin has been to pineneek 
Carting Seeweed. Brought up a load of haw Ruland has been thrashing Seed 
wheet tliis forenoon, this afternoon he has been Diging potatos. 

Thursday the 24. wind W : Clear & warm. I have been Diging Potatos. 
Austin & Ruland is gon to Pineneek to fix for Soing his wheet. 

friday the 25. wind S W & warm. I have been Binding & Stacking up 
Corn in the Barn Lot & Diging Potatos & giting them in. Austin Came up 
from Pineneek ahorse back to git Porter to go Down to help him. 

Saterday the 26. wind X W Clear & pleasent. 1 finnished giting in the 
potatos & Cuting the Stalks in the Barn Lot. Austin got home this E\-ening 
with his hands from pineneek. 



6o CAPT. DAN /EL ROE 

Sunday the 27 wind W Clear & Coal Evenings. I have been at home, not 
very well, the Children have been to meting. 

Munday the 28. wind S E : Clear & pleasent. T have been Cnting up Corn 
in the A\" Lot. whare we mean to Soe wheet. Austin & his hands is gon to 
pineneck to finnish plowdng & Soe his wheet. 

(60) Tusday the 29 Day of September wind S E Clear & warm. I have 
been Husking Corn out of the Stacks by thj 15arn & binding up what l)ut 
Stalks we had in the barn Lot. 

Wednesday the 30: wind S: & warm, we have been giting out Dung on 
the ground whare we Soe wheet. 

Thursday the i. Day of October wdnd N E & Signs of a storm, we have 
been giting out Dung this forenoon, this afternoon we have got in the Corn 
we had Cut up whare we Soe wheet & the top Stalks also. (* * * *) 

friday the 2. wind X E &: lUows Heavey with Rain, to Day we finnished 
giting out our Dung we had 45 Loads. 

Saterday the 3. wind X W : with Rain the Most of the Day. this forenoon 
we have ])ecn thrashing wheet. this afternoon we got 2 Loads of Dimg from 
Newtons & begun to Plow for wheet. 

Sunday the 4. wind X"^ E: with Rain the Most of the Day. the familv at 
home. Daniel I'.rown brought his wife here & Left her. 

Munday the 5. wind X' W : & pleasent. we have finnished Soeing our 
wheet to Day & our grass seed. (* * * '^) 

Tusday the 6. wind N W : Clear & Coal. T have been gathering the Beens 
in the Barn Lot & apples & Cuting Down the Corn hils wdiare we Soed wheet. 
Austin & Ruland has been Carting jNIenure from Benjamin (Jvertons that we 
bought of him ])ut it in the Barn Lot. 

Wednesday the 7. wind W : Clear & pleasent. they finnished giting the 
Menure in the Ham Lot. Austin began to plow. T finnished Diging up & 
gitting in our potatos. Daniel Brown Came here this Evening & took his wife 
home. 

(61) Thursday the 8. wind S W : & Signs of Rain. I have been Spread- 
ing Dung in the Barn Lot whare Austin was aplowing. we finnished plowing 
for this year. Ruland acuting Cordwood for Austin, we have had frost Tw^o 
nights Back, the first this fall. 

friday the 9. wind S Clear & warm, we have finnished Soeing for this 
year. I Clean'd up the Last of our wheet. Ruland Lnployed as above. 

Saterday the 10. wind S W & warm, we have been to Pineneck. Austin 
has been puting up Sum fence & brought up Load of hay. cal'd at Beels, got 
5 gallons of Molases. Ruland acuting wood. 

Sunday the 11. wind S Clear & warm. I have been at home, the Children 
have Ijeen to Meting. Jonthan Hallock & his wife cal'd to See us. 

Munday the 12. wind S W & warm, we have Cut up &: got in all our Corn 
in the N Lot. Ruland acuting Cordwood. 

Tusday the 13 wind X W : Clear & warm. I have gathered what apples we 



HIS DIARY 6 1 

had in the E orchcd. Austin has been over with a load & they have been 
Mending" the Road, we had a number of hands this Evening ahusking Corn. 

Wednesday the 14. wind S W Warm &: Drie. T have been over with a 
load. Austin & Rnland acuting" Cordwood. 

Thursday the 15. wind X W Clear & Drie weather. I have been over with 
a load. Austin <!<: Ruland have JK-en thrashing: Zopher & his wife came to See 
us this Evening 

(62) friday the 16. Day of October wdnd X \\ Warm & Drie weather. 
I have been Diging up Sweet potatos & giting in the Corn that we had Husk'd 
the other Evening. Austin is gon to Mill, went by the way of Elishas to Soe 
Sum grain for him. Huldah went with him to Elishas. 

Saterday the 17. wind E: Cloudey & Signs of Rain. I finnished Diging up 
our Sweet potatos & fixing Mv Cask for making Sider. took uj) 7 Sheep to 
Day. (* * * ^) 

Sunday the 18. wind W with thunder & Rain. I have been at home, not 
well, the Children have been to meting. Colman came home to Day. 

Munday the ig. wind N W with Hail Squals & Cold. I have been husking 
Corn. Austin has l)een o\'er with 2 Loads of Cordwood. 

Tusday the 20. wind X W : & Cold, this forenoon Austin has been over 
with a load, this afternoon we have Made up what api)les we had. we made 
nearly 4 barrels (i. e., cider). 

Wednesday the 21. wind S W : & Blows very lieavey. I have been at 
home not well. Austin has been to Patchog & brought up a load of hay. 

Thursday the 22. wind X W^ Clear & Coal. I have been Husking Corn. 
Atistin has l>een o\er with 2 Loads of Cordwood. 

friday the 23. wind X W Clear & pleasent. I have l)een moveing Sum 
grain in the Barn to make way for our Top stalks & husking Sum Corn. 
Austin has been over with 2 Loads & got in a load of topstalks. 

Saterday the 24 wind X W : Clear & Coal, we have been Lnployed as 
above. 

(63) Sunday the 25, wind S W : warm & Drie wether. I have been at 
home, not well, the Children at meting. 

Munday the 26. wind X A\ & Coal. I have been mending fence. Austin 
has been over \vith 2 Loads. 

Tusday the 27. wind X E & Signs of a storm, we have got in the Last of 
our top stalks this forenoon, this afternoon I have been Husking Corn in the 
W Lot. Austin has been over with a load of Cordwood. 

Wednesday the 28. wind W Clear & warm. I have been Husking Sum 
Corn in the liarn. 1 not well. Austin went of to pineneck this Morning. 

Thursday the 29: wind S A\ : &: warm. 1 have been gathering Corn in the 
W Lot. Brother Austin cal'd here on his way to Setalket. Austin got home 
from pineneck with a load of hay. 

friday the 30. wind S E with Rain all the Latter part of the Day. we got 
in a load of Corn before the Rain came on. I have been to Coram got our 



62 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

Horses Shod all Round & 2 Tires put on the wagon & I Bought a set of 
trases of Goldsmith Davis cost £0-15-4. not ]:)aid. 

Saterday the 31 & Last Day of October wind: we liave got in a load of 
Corn cK: Cut u]) the stalks & got 2 Loads of hrewood. 

Sunday the i. Day of November wind X A\ with Sum Scjuais of Snow & 
Rain. I have l^een at home not well, the Children at meting at Josephs. 

Munday the 2. wind N AV & pleasent. I have been gathering Corn. 
Atistin has been over with 2 loads. 

Tusday the 3. wiufl W & pleasent. I have gathered Sum Corn & have been 
to Trustee Meting. Austin Imployed as above. 

Wednesday the 4 Little and no wind Smokey thick Rain. I have been at 
home ver\- unwell with a cough Austin has been over with 2 loads of wood. 

(64) Thursday the 5. Day of November, wind W Cloudey Dul weather. 
I am unwell. Porter has been hel])ing Austin & the}- have hnnished giting in 
our Corn & Stalks. 

friday the 6. wind X E: with a sufver storm of Rain the storm l)egan 
Last night & Continued all Day. 

Saterday the 7. wind W Clear & pleasent. we have Kil'd 2 of our fat 
Cattle with help of Porter. Joseph had a hine quarter & Laben a hine quarter. 
Each waid 39 lbs. L 

Sunday the 8. wind A\' S W : & Signs of a storm. I have been at home not 
well, the Children have been to meting. Elisha & his wife came here after 
meting. 

Munday the 9. wind W & pleasent. I continue unwell. Austin has been 
mending fence by our wheet this forenoon, this afternoon he has been to 
Carry Huldah to Daniel Prowns to go to York with him to See her Brother as 
we here he Lyeth at the point of Death. 

Tusday the 10. wind X^ E & it came on to Rain this afternoon. I have 
taken a little care of the Creturs. Austin & Colman is gon to Load Sloop. 

Wednesday the 11. wind S \\ : tS: warm. I have put away My Sweet 
potatos. Austin has fetch "d up a load of hay. 

Thursday the 12. wind W : & Blows Heavey. I have been at home Doing 
a little, n(jt very well. Austui has been over with a load of his wood & i of 
(i. e., off) the hill for me. 

friday the 13. wind \V & pleasent I have been at home Doing but Little 
not well. Austin has been over with 2 Loads. 

Saterday the 14. wind S W & Cold, we have been Imployed as above. 

Sunday the 15. wind X & Cold. I have been at home, not well. Austin has 
been to meting at Josephs. 

Munday the 16. wind S A\' Clear & Cold we have been giting firewood, 
got 4 Loads. 

(One leaf missing from manuscript, Xov. 17 — Dec. g, 1807.) 

(65) Thursday the 10 (Dec.) wind S AA^ with Rain the (most) of the 
Day. I got a load of firewood Austin & Porter athrashing. 



HIS DIARY 63 

friday the 11. wind N : Cleai & Coal. 1 have betMi gitiii"; firewood, got 2 
Loads for my Self & i Load for Laben. had his Mar .\ustin & Porter 
athrashing 

Saterday the 12. wind \\^ : & Signs of a storm, we have Clean'd up what 
Rie we had thrashetl. their Avas 20 lUishels. 

Sunday the 13 wintl S E: with Rain the ]\Iost of the Day. the family at 
Home all but Huldah. She is not got home. 

. Munday the 14. wind X W : Clear & pleasent. 1 have been mending Sum 
fence & sheling Corn. Austin has been over witli 1 Load, I'.rought home a 
load of firew(i(Kl for Laben. Huldah got home this b^vening from Newyork. 




Rev. Austin W. Roe, Fulton, X. V., L.\st Surviving Grandson of Capt. Daniel Roe. 

(As John Roe died Nov. 17. it seems strange that no mention is made. The 
lost page may have had it.) 

Tusday the 15 wind: E: with Rain the Most of the Day. I have Done but 
Little Bisness i have got in our Cabage. Austin is gon to Pat'chog to mill 
Carryed 19 Bushels Rie i^ of wheet i^ of Corn 

Wednesday the 16: wind S W : with Rain this forenoon, this afternoon 
we have been giting firewood. 

Thursday the 17 wind S E & warm, we have got a load of Pitch nots to 
Day. 

friday the 18 wind W : & Blows Heavy. I have been Doing Sum trifels 



64 CAPT. DANIEL ROE 

about home, Austin Cuting Corchvoocl. he is gon to see Zopher Hallock this 
Evening as he is unwell 

Saterday the 19 wind X \\ & cold. I have been at home Doing but Little 
except taking care of the Creturs Austin is gon to the N side to git a passage 
to Newyork. (* * * ='^') 

Sunday the 20. wind S E : Clear & pleasent. I have been at home. Austin 
is gon to the X side again to now if the vesel is Ready to Sail. 

Munday the 21. wind S W : & Signs of a storm we have been gitine tire- 

do o 

Tusday the 22 wind S \\" & warm. I have been to See Zopher & 

found him ver}- low but we are in hopes is Sum better. Austin Sailed for 
Xewyork this morning. 

(66) Wednesday the 23 Day of December wind S \V : &. warm. I have 
been Cuting tirew.u.d in Austins W : Land. Huldah is to Hallocks. 

Thursday the 24 wind S \V : & Coal. I have been giting wood. Huldah 
•came home from Hallocks this morning & is gon to Elishas this afternoon. 

friday the 25 wind X : Clear & Coal. I have been Cuting & giting fire- 
wood, got I Load then wcut to Coram on Sum Bisness. 

Saterday the 26. wind X E : & Coal. 1 have been Cuting & giting firewood 
got 2 Loads, Jesse. Had a pare of shuse Come to Day. Daniel Brown & wife 
cal'd here on their way home. 

Sunday the 27. wind S \\' & warm. 1 have been at home. Austin got home 
this evening from Xewyork. John Hallock Come here. Brought one of 
Zophcrs Daughters to stay with us as he is verv Loe. 

Munday the 28. wind X E : Clear & pleasent. 1 have been over with a 
load of Cordwood. Austin has been helping Joseph Kill his Beef. 

Tusday the 29 wind E: & it Came on to Rain with thunder this afternoon, 
but Little Bisness Done to Day. 

Wednesday the 30 wind X W : Clear lS: pleasent. 1 have been over with a 
load got Sum Board & Shingles for to Cover a well House. Laben & Austin 
lias been giting the timber. 

Thursday the 31. & Last Day of December wind X \\^ Clear & Coal, this 
forenoon we have been giting up Cordwood for Austin, got out 4 Loads, this 
afternoon I have been to Danill Hammonds for my Lather but it was not 
Done 

friday the i. Day of January (1808) wind X W : Cold I have been at home 
Doing but little. I have been to Coram to git Sum nails for my well House 
as Laben is at work at it. (* * * *) 

Saterday the 2 wind X W & Cold, we have finnished the well House & got 
It over the well. Austin got home from pine neck brought a load of hay. 



.UG 25 1904 



